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.

Children’s Museum of N.H. to Celebrate Earth Day

DOVER—
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire invites families to celebrate Earth Day at the museum on Thursday, April 22 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Children can learn to be “Earth Heroes” by finding out simple things they can do to reduce, reuse and recycle. 
 
A variety of hands-on activities are planned throughout the museum with special guests from the local business community: Wentworth Gardens of Rollinsford will have a planting station where children can plant marigolds to take home and grow;
 Red Worms for a Green Earth will educate children about how worms help the earth by speeding the decomposition process: Seacoast Eat Local will have information about how families can support local farmers and enjoy healthy, locally grown foods; UNH’s Kids Can Grow program will have a representative available to share information about programs specifically designed to teach children how to garden; Cabot Creamery will offer samples of four types of cheese made from milk from their cooperative of 1,200 family dairy farms throughout New England and New York; Families can also learn about how the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire was designed and built to be environmentally friendly, achieving the honor of Silver LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. From installing a highly efficient HVAC system and water-saving fixtures to repurposing building materials and using low VOC paints, the Children’s Museum provides an excellent example of sustainable building practices.
 
Regular museum admission applies for all Earth Day festivities: $8 for children and adults, $7 for adults age 65 and over, and there is no charge for museum members or children under 12 months old.
Photo caption: As part of its Earth Day celebration on April 22, the Children’s Museum of N.H. will be highlighting the many ‘green’ design and construction practices that were incorporated into its own LEED-certified building in Dover. (Sean Hennessy photo)

The HUB’s Strengthening Families Class Offered in Somersworth

SOMERSWORTH—
The HUB Family Resource Center is bringing its popular Strengthening Families class to Somersworth, a seven-week program for parents and their children ages 10-14 years of age. The HUB’s Somersworth Youth Connection (SYC) afterschool program will be hosting the class on Thursdays from April 29th to June 10th at the Somersworth Middle School. This class is offered free of charge.
The Strengthening Families class focuses on the 10-14 age range, which is an exciting but sometimes challenging period for children and parents alike. The HUB is offering the class to its SYC participants and any other middle school students from surrounding towns and their parents who are interested in strengthening their family bonds.
During the seven-week program, parents and children will follow separate curriculums and then will be brought together to share their outcomes. Parents and children will learn: coping mechanisms during this rapid growth stage when attitudes and emotional needs are challenging to all members of the family; good decision making in relation to risky behaviors surrounding substance abuse; set age-appropriate parental expectations and learn emotional management skills.
A light meal will be shared with all families at each session, emphasizing the importance of this family time.
The HUB is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing parent education and support services with a mission to enhance parent’s abilities to raise healthy children in caring homes. The HUB serves all families in Strafford County and surrounding towns. Three years ago, the HUB was awarded a five-year 21st Century Community Learning Center grant through the Department of Education to start a much needed afterschool program for the middle school in Somersworth. Under the leadership of the HUB’s Maureen Jackman, SYC has developed into a thriving afterschool and summer program, which enhances the success of more than100 middle school children per year.
HUB parent education manager Lisa Paone has been teaching this class for several years. Each year, she witnesses wonderful moments of parents and their children developing closer relationships. Paone states, “Families walk away with new ways to connect, communicate and thrive, even at a time when major developmental changes in children affect the entire family unit. Parents learn new ways to adjust to the growing changes and challenges their children may be going through with a new perspective. Learning to listen and show that you trust your children when they are making good decisions fosters a positive relationship for years to come.”
For more information about the HUB’s Strengthening Families program, or the HUB, please visit www. hubfamilies.org. To register for Strengthening Families please call Lisa Paone at 749-9755 x10, or Maureen Jackman at SYC at 692-2126 x209. Registration is required and space is limited for this class.

Chambers to Host Governor Lynch

ROCHESTER—
The Greater Dover, Rochester and Somersworth Chambers of Commerce will present a State of the State breakfast forum with New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. This breakfast forum, underwritten by Public Service of New Hampshire, is planned for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at The Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield Street, Rochester. The program will begin with a buffet breakfast, followed by Governor Lynch’s state of the state address and a question and answer period. Governor Lynch is expected to cover such topics as the state’s budget and other issues that affect business.
The cost to attend the breakfast forum is $15 for members of the Greater Dover, Rochester and Somersworth Chambers of Commerce and $25 for non-members. Checks should be made payable to the Tri-Chambers of Commerce.
Advance registration is preferred. Download registration form at www.somersworthchamber.com or call 603-692-7175.
Photo caption: Gov. John Lynch will present a State of the State address in Rochester on April 13. (Courtesy photo)

Dover in the 1860s...as Lincoln Saw It

DOVER—
The Woodman Institute Museum on Central Avenue in Dover celebrates the 150th anniversary of young Abe Lincoln’s overnight visit to Dover on March 2, 1860, with the popular exhibition prepared for the celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday in 2009. “This exhibit has been one of the most popular and unique exhibits featured at the museum,” says Thom Hindle, museum trustee and exhibit curator. Last May the Woodman hosted a celebration visit to Dover with Lincoln re-enactor Steve Wood. Many people in attendance described Lincoln’s visit to the Woodman as one of the biggest celebrations seen in Dover in many years. Due to the large interest in the exhibit, and in celebration of his 1860 visit, the Lincoln Exhibition with some additions will continue throughout the 2010 season.
It has been said that it was Lincoln’s decision to visit New Hampshire and his son Robert at school in Exeter that won him the nomination and the election to become our 16th president. The Lincoln exhibit at the Woodman gives visitors an opportunity to see through rare historic photographs what Dover was like during the Civil War and learn facts by viewing actual artifacts related to Lincoln and his assassin John Wilkes Booth. The actual podium used by Lincoln as he gave his two hour speech at city hall and the saddle used by Lincoln to review troops only days before he was assassinated will be on display.
As part of the museum tour, guides will talk about all the unique connections that Dover had with Lincoln, including a U.S. Senator who was at Lincoln’s bedside when he died and escorted the body back to Springfield, and another Dover senator who’s daughter was engaged to an actor by the name of Booth.
The Woodman Institute Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 12:30-4:30 p.m. (except holidays) with exhibits displayed in four historic homes that includes the original 1675 William Damm garrison. The Woodman is a natural history, local history and art museum with something for all ages and interests. You can call 742-1038 for information/group reservations or visit www.woodmaninstitutemuseum.org.
Photo caption: Photos of John Wilkes Booth and Ford’s Theatre on display. (Courtesy photo)