Slow Food Seacoast and Friends Present ‘Taste of Place’

PORTSMOUTH—
Come celebrate our shared roots with great local food and fun upstairs at The Press Room on Thursday, March 10 from 5-7:45 p.m. Learn more about Terra Madre, known as the “farmers’ United Nations,” from local delegates who represented the Seacoast region at the Terra Madre conference in October 2010: John Forti of Slow Food Seacoast, Jean Jennings of Meadow’s Mirth, and Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet Bistro. These Seacoast representatives joined more than 5,000 delegates from 150 countries at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, to discuss how to create new economies and artisanal products around local agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries.
During the “Taste of Place” social, the local delegates will share the hope that they saw at Terra Madre in models of sustainable local practices in Italy and around the world. Evan Mallett will talk about being cleaner and greener, balancing aquaculture and wild fish stocks, and encouraging children to eat local and fresh ingredients in their school lunches. Jean Jennings will discuss the cost of good food and accessibility issues. She also is organizing some local musicians to entertain us! John Forti will talk about inspired land use, the Salone del Gusto (the world’s largest artisanal food marketplace), the Renewing America’s Food Traditions (RAFT) Alliance (preserving at-risk heirloom produce and heritage-breed foods), and creating new traditions that will lead us to a better future.
In addition, Slow Food Seacoast will be distributing free seeds of native heirloom fruits and vegetables featured in the RAFT Alliance to anyone who is willing to grow, eat, and save seeds of these varieties to preserve them for the future, because the best way to restore at-risk varieties is to grow and eat them.
Admission to Terra Madre “Taste of Place” A Slow Food Seacoast Social is free. Black Trumpet Bistro will provide sumptuous internationally flavored appetizers made with local ingredients. Please patronize the cash bar to thank The Press Room for hosting this event. The Press Room is located at 77 Daniel Street, Portsmouth.
Photo caption: Beautiful produce in Eataly! (Photo by Jean Jennings)

National Weather Service Meteorologist to Speak on Storms

RYE—
The Seacoast Science Center’s Heritage Dinner Series brings John Cannon, Senior Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine to speak on Thursday, March 24, at 6:00 p.m. In his presentation, “Tornados, Tsunamis and Nor’easters: the Challenges of Forecasting Coastal New England Weather,” Cannon will regale you with accounts of some of the region’s most dramatic storms. You’ll hear about and see rare images of the infamous storms including the longest track tornado to hit New England, the “meteo” tsunami in Boothbay Harbor, hurricane Bob and the famous Patriots’ Day storm.
Ever since Mark Twain’s famous quip about New England weather, “If you don’t like it, wait a minute,” we New Englanders have taken a certain amount of pride in our ability to withstand, and appreciate, a wide variety of weather. Along the coast, we are “lucky” enough to be impacted by ocean storms, which add drama, destruction and danger to our lives. Although we rely on our local weather forecasters, they rely on National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to provide data and information for their predictions. Cannon is our regional weather forecasters’ weatherman.
Join us to hear the inside story on when and how the NWS works, what affects the accuracy of forecasts and how technology is improving our ability to understand weather patterns from one of the best. John grew up in New England, enjoying every Nor’easter and the rapid changes in the weather that Mother Nature could muster. He later moved to upstate New York and learned to love the extreme conditions of Lake Effect Snowstorms while earning a degree in meteorology from the State University of New York at Oswego. John worked as a weather forecaster in Albany, New York and is currently a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. A resident of Gray, ME, John received NOAA’s prestigious national “Isaac Cline Award” for meteorology in 2009.
The cost is $45/person for Seacoast Science Center members; $55/person for non-members. The reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and presentation. Reservations must be made by March 18. Full payment is required to reserve your seat; please contact Nichole at 603-436-8043, ext. 26 or n.rutherford@seacentr.org to sign up. Sponsored by McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA, all proceeds support the Seacoast Science Center. Visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org for details.

Renowned Swimmer and Musician Dives in for a Cause

RYE/KITTERY, ME—
Beginning at about 1:30 p.m. on February 26, well-known accordionist and “Creekman” Gary Sredzienski will swim four miles in icy water (roughly 35 degrees “warm”) to raise funds for the preservation of historic lighthouses. While Gary swims in local waterways year-round, this route has particular significance, bringing attention - and funding - to the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation and its local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. Gary will start out swimming from Odiorne Point (Rye, NH) to Whaleback Lighthouse (Kittery, ME) to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (New Castle, NH) to the Kittery Point Town Dock behind Captain and Patty’s restaurant on Pepperrell Road (Route 103).
Gary has been swimming all his life and has done three other long distance winter swims for charities. In his spare time, he pursues his other calling as a professional accordion player, having picked up the instrument at the age of 9. He performs 1960s surf rock, traditional ethnic, and original accordion compositions with the Portsmouth-based group, the Serfs, and he also hosts a radio show, “Polka Party,” weekly on WUNH-FM in Durham.
Following the swim on February 26, Gary and his band, the Serfs, will play at a celebration party upstairs at Captain and Patty’s restaurant in Kittery Point. The 5 p.m. party is sold out, but the public can still come to the restaurant to dine downstairs and listen to the music during the party.
The funds raised will be split evenly between the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), and the foundation’s local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses (FPHL). ALF, a nonprofit organization based in Rockland, Maine, cares for 23 historic lighthouses in the Northeast. FPHL cares for Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, NH, and Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine. Whaleback is in dire need of restoration that will cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
See www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org for more information about the event, and to find out how to donate in honor of Gary’s incredible commitment.
Photo caption: Gary Sredzienski playing his accordion at the top of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. Gary will swim four miles from Rye, NH to Kittery Point, ME on Feb. 26 in order to raise money for this and Whaleback Lighthouse. (Photo by Jeremy D’Entremont)

Local Students Participate in ‘Poetry Out Loud’

DOVER—
St. Thomas students Ellen Bruton, Ashley Puffer, Jake Horne, Mike Dunbar, Anna Domings, Candice Ellis, and Alison Hiatt all showed that words live a more powerful life coming from the heart and mind of an imaginative and impassioned reader. Senior Mike Dunbar of Hampton, NH was named 2nd Runner-up, sophomore Anna Domings of Merrimac, MA was named 1st Runner-up, and senior Ashley Puffer of Kittery, ME was named the winner. As the contest winner, Ashley, and the first alternate, Anna Domings, were awarded merit scholarships from New England College--$15,000—and the University of South New Hampshire--$11,000 respectively should they decide to attend those schools. Ashley and Anna will go on to participate in the NH semi-final competition in March at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, and then hopefully on to the State and National finals in April.
Photo caption: Mike Dunbar (class of 2011 from Hampton, NH), Ashley Puffer (class of 2011 from Kittery, ME) and Anna Domings (class of 2013 from Merrimac, MA) with Principal Kevin Collins after receiving their awards. (Courtesy photo)

CSA Day Coming to Winter Farmers’ Market

ROLLINSFORD—
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown can be challenging. But for many people, joining a CSA or Community Supported Agriculture farm provides an easier avenue, letting them get to know the farmers growing their food and return week after week to the same farm. It is an ideal connection to knowing what you’re eating and many farmers in the greater seacoast area offer CSA shares with ample opportunities to participate. This year, get fresh, local food all summer long and really get to know your farmer by purchasing a Community Supported Agriculture share from a local farm.
Seacoast Eat Local will be hosting CSA Day at the Market at their upcoming Winter Farmers’ Market on Saturday, February 26, at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford. Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), meet the farmers offering shares, and sign up for the 2011 season. Sixteen CSA farms are signed up to take part in this event, representing over 1,500 available shares in our region.
Community Supported Agriculture offers a terrific way for people to get a steady supply of local food directly from farmers. Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a partnership between consumers and farmers in which members buy shares of the farm’s harvest and receive regular allotments of food throughout the growing season.
For farmers, this provides much needed cash flow for the beginning of the season, as well as a ready market and community of supporters. Shareholders join in the risks of the growing season but reap the benefits of the harvest. Community Supported Fisheries, or CSFs (modeled after CSAs), are a way to buy seafood directly from fishermen, and support our local fisheries by purchasing seasonal shares.
Each CSA and CSF has its own structure, pricing and distribution schedule, and some farms have work requirements. Many different models of CSAs exist, including diverse pick-up locations and hours. Some farms have started offering a market style CSA where customers can shop at the farmers’ market after purchasing credit with the farm.
A list of CSA farms in the Rockingham, Strafford, and York Counties is available at Seacoast Harvest, www.seacoastharvest.org, the online guide to local food.
More information about CSA Day can be found at www.seacoasteatlocal.org. Wentworth Greenhouses is located at 141 Rollins Road, Rollinsford, NH, a mile past Red’s Shoe Barn of Dover.

BA Eighth Grader Wins Gold at National Taekwondo Championships

RYE BEACH/
SOUTH BERWICK, ME—
Berwick Academy 8th grade student Kenny Berger, son of Trish and Ken Berger of Rye Beach, NH recently won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas. He will be competing in the Taekwondo World Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas, this June.
Beginning his martial arts training when he was only 3½ years old, Kenny has been training with Master Kenneth Church, a 7th degree black belt and World Champion, and Mrs. Trish Church, a 4th degree black belt and World Champion for the past six years. Church’s Martial Arts is in Carmel Valley and Encinitas, California and is affiliated with the American Taekwondo Association. While in New Hampshire, he also takes lessons from Mr. Robert Roy, 5th degree Black Belt and World Champion in Amherst, NH.
Currently, Kenny is a 3rd degree black belt and World Champion. In 2009, he earned four California State Champion Titles and won the gold medal in Traditional Weapons and the silver medal in Traditional Forms at the Taekwondo World Championships. Last year, Kenny won four California State Champion Titles and 3 bronze medals at the World Championships. Throughout the year, Kenny travels around the country competing, balancing his schoolwork, school sports, and training into his busy schedule. He has consistently won gold medals at the National Championships held in Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas Nevada. Most recently, Kenny won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas.
This June, Kenny will be competing in 7 different events at the World Championships: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Sparring, Extreme Martial Arts Forms, Extreme Martial Arts Weapons, Creative Forms, and Creative Weapons. To be eligible to compete at the World Championships, participants must qualify in the top ten in their country in each event. Kenny is only 12 years old and will compete in the Boys 11-13 year old 3rd degree black belt division.
In addition to his Taekwondo training, Kenny also competes in cross country, wrestling, cycling, chorus, and was the lead in this year’s Berwick Academy Middle School production of Aladdin. Kenny is also an active participant in Mixed Martial Arts classes as part of his training and is a certified level two instructor with the American Taekwondo Association, where he teaches both group and private lessons. His hobbies include surfing, reading, and science.
For more information on the American Taekwondo Association visit www.ataonline.com. For more information on Church’s Martial Arts visit www.churchsmartialarts.com.
Photo caption: NH resident Kenny Berger recently medaled at the National Taekwondo Championships in Dallas, Texas. (Courtesy photo)

Critical Piece in Great Bay Conservation Puzzle Put into Place

DOVER—
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, working with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, acquired a conservation easement on 33 acres in Dover at the mouth of the Bellamy River where it enters Little Bay.
“We’re proud to partner with TNC and the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership to conserve this important section of the Great Bay shoreline,” said Forest Society President/Forester Jane Difley. “This area of the state has been recognized as an estuarine ecosystem of local, regional, and national importance.”
This property adds nearly 800 feet of protected shoreline, extending an unbroken string of protected Bellamy Riverfront properties that begins not far from downtown Dover. On the other side of the conservation easement, only another 800 feet separates this conserved area from the Madbury town line and other lands under easement with the Forest Society. From there the string of protected shoreline continues all the way to the Durham town line, with its cluster of conserved land around Wagon Hill Farm.
In addition to its importance to the estuary as a buffer, the property includes an unusual salt panne, a pond that sits a few feet above sea level but just a few steps from the bay. The pond’s impervious clay bottom retains the water, which very slowly seeps away through a small outlet. The pond is replenished whenever an unusually high tide brings water up over its banks.
The easement has a system of zones to ensure that the management of the land continues to protect the bay. The property is managed to maintain a protective vegetated buffer of forest and scrubland along the shore.
Great Bay has been a focus of New Hampshire’s conservation planning and management since the 1940s. The Bellamy River, along with four other rivers flowing into Great Bay, draws a tidal flush of salt water from the Atlantic Ocean nearly five miles east of the estuary itself. The mixing of fresh and salt water creates a rich aquatic habitat. The estuary’s healthy salt and brackish marsh, eelgrass beds, and mud flats provide feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds for finfish, oysters, shellfish, waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.
The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership is a group of organizations committed to protecting the important habitats of the Great Bay Region. Since 1994, the Partnership has conserved more than 5,500 acres within the watershed.
“The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership could never have achieved over 5,500 acres of conserved land around Great Bay without the willingness of landowners to work with us on conservation opportunities for their property,” said Duane Hyde, director of protection for The Nature Conservancy.
The Partnership’s conservation efforts include science and research based decision making for land conservation actions, collaborative landscape scale stewardship and management, and providing recreation and education opportunities. For more information, visit www.greatbaypartnership.org.
Photo caption: The recently conserved land includes this salt panne, a pond that sits a few feet above sea level. The pond’s clay bottom holds water, which slowly seeps away through a small outlet. (Photo by Dea Brickner-Wood)