• The Easter Bunny’s visit to the Aviation Museum by student-built airplane has been postponed to Saturday, March 30, at 9 a.m. due to inclement weather. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call 669-4820.
• The Well Church’s annual free Easter egg hunt at Greeley Park in Nashua(near the bandstand, 100 Concord St.) will be Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m. Visit thewellnh.org/egghunt or call 978-419-1756.
• The Salem Community Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Rockingham Christian Church at Hedgehog Pond in Salem will now take place on Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Visit rccsalem.com or call 894-5228.
• The Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford) now has two ticketed time slots for their Egg-citing Egg Hunt at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30. Each ticket is $20. Visit theeducationalfarm.org.
• The Egg-Citing Egg Hunt continues at Charmingfare Farm in Candia (774 High St.) on Saturday, March 30, and Easter Sunday, March 31, with various times between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. See visitthefarm.com.
• Hudson’s Best Easter Egg Hunt is also Saturday, March 30, at Inner DragonMartial Arts (77 Derry Road in Hudson) with times at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. See funnels.hudsonmartialart.com/egghunt-2024
• The Easter Bunny Party at Carriage Shack Farm in Londonderry (5 Dan Hill Road) is on Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $12.95 for ages 16 and over, $10.95 for ages 15 and under. See carriageshackfarmllc.org
OK, can you help me figure this out? It says Ralston on it. It’s also marked “Eat Ralston Daily.”
Can you help?
Jake
Dear Jake,
I’m not quite sure how it works but it somehow tells time. When you hold it up to the sun it can turn and give you time.
It’s a Ralston cereal toy (premium). The company produced cereal from the late 1800s to the 1990s. The name probably seems more familiar as Ralston Purina.
I can remember when I was younger begging my mom to buy any cereal with a good toy in it. Premiums are collectible and range from a dollar to very high values, depending on what it is, from what cereal, how many were produced and condition.
The value of yours, Jake, is in the $40 range to a collector. So a nice little premium find.
• The Addams Family is presented by Pinkerton Players at Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com) on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15. This School Edition version of The Addams Family offers a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family and features an original story where Wednesday Addams, a princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, according to their website. Now, the whole family must host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Oh, the horror!
• The Rainbow Fish is presented by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia at Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com) on Tuesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. The play introduces the most beautiful fish in the sea, whose scales shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow, according to their website, and finds the courage to explore the deep unknown sea full of wonderful sights and friendly creatures, in a visually striking production that makes the pages of the storybooks come to life. Tickets cost $12.
Playing outside
• Granite State Kids Community Tennis Association is starting its 24th season of tennis at the Legacy Park Tennis Courts (230 New Boston Road in Bedford). The GSK is part of the United States Tennis Association and has provided junior tennis instruction and competitive junior team tennis for 23 years, according to their website. All levels of ability can participate, and they use modified equipment for beginner and younger players to allow kids to play quickly. Their Spring 2024 Tennis Programs has slots for children age 10 and younger and for kids age 11 and older on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Monday cohort runs from Monday, May 13, to Monday, June 17, and that includes Memorial Day. The Wednesday cohort runs from Wednesday, May 15, to Wednesday, June 17. Register soon if you are interested; the Monday section for children age 10 and under is already full. Cost is $125 per child. Visit granitestatekids.com.
Playing in outer space
• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 institute Drive in Concord), open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., has a planetarium show that is perfect for astronauts in training. 3-2-1 Liftoff! is an animated film about a gifted hamster scientist named Elon, who after finding a robot that’s crash-landed in his dump yard garden must use his courage and wits to get the robot back to a rocket leaving for Mars in three days, according to their website. Will he succeed? Head to the Discovery Center to find out. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of this or any planetarium show. Seating occurs 10 minutes before each show, at which time tickets will no longer be available. 3-2-1 Liftoff! is recommended for ages 4 and older. Tickets are $7 in addition to admission but free for members and children under 2. Visit starhop.com or call 271-7827.
• Science educator Jenny Powers will present “Women of the Night Sky” at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry) on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Jenny Powers, Director of Science at Springfield Museums, invites participants to ponder women’s place among the stars this Women’s History Month as you get a sneak preview of some of the stories Powers is developing for the Seymour Planetarium in Springfield, Mass., which she hopes will spark curiosity in girls and women about what lies beyond Earth’s atmosphere, according to a press release. The program is part of the Aviation Museum’s “Exploring Aviation” lecture series. Admission is $10 per person, free for museum members. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call 669-4877 or email [email protected].
One show, two show, kid show, fun show
• Seussical The Musical will be presented by the Kids Coop Theatre at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry) Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks,” according to a press release. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, according to the same release, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him as the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant in this production. All actors are between the ages of 8 and 18. Tickets are $15 plus fees online. Tickets at the door are $20 plus fees for credit cards or $20 with no fees for cash. See kctnh.org.
At the library
• Goffstown Public Library (2 High St. in Goffstown; goffstownlibrary.com) will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. for kids ages 2 1/2 through kindergarten, celebrating the luck of the Irish with stories, games and activities, according to their website. Registration is required for participants.
• Families are invited to drop by the Winchell Room at Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester) on Monday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Peep Diorama Day! On this day off from school, according to the city’s website, participants will be given three Peeps and other materials such as construction paper, jewels, pom-poms, glitter and more to create a diorama. The website advises participants to bring in a small box or shoe box from home but there will be a small amount of shoe boxes available for those who do not have one. Call 624-6550, ext. 7628, or visit manchester.lib.nh.us.
• Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua) on Tuesday, March 19, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. will be hosting children in grades K through 5 to celebrate the release of the newest Dog Man book, Scarlet Shredder!, according to their website. The website also mentioned that kids will be able to participate in fun activities and games based on the very popular graphic novel series. Call 589-4600 or visit www.nashualibrary.org.
I have this hat which I have researched and found on The Met art site. Could you give me a value on it and tell me if you know any dealers who might be interested in it? I also have a number of 1950s and 1960s felt ladies dress hats.
Thank you.
Paul
Dear Paul,
Your silk top hat from the late 1800s looks to be in great condition. After doing research myself on it, I found values to be in the range of $200+. That would be top value to a collector, or as an actor accessory or for re-enactment purposes.
Antique and vintage clothing is a specific market. If you can find someone local in New Hampshire to purchase the top hat and ladies felt hats I would think you would be looking at half the value if not less. Keep in mind, Paul, they then have to find the top market for them. That takes time!
Remember always, though, the hats’ condition would be key to a purchaser. I don’t have a referral for you, but hopefully we might find one with your story.
Thank you for sharing, Paul, and let’s hope we can help you.
Donna
Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an antique art studio located in Dunbarton where she is still buying and selling. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.
•. Mini Pickles – Pickleball for Kids is being held at the City-Wide Community Center (14 Canterbury Road in Concord), where kids ages 10 to 14 can learn the fundamentals with coach Mel Crane every Friday from March 8 to March 29, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fee is $50 per resident, $60 per non-resident. Visit concordparksandrec.com.
Reading & storytime
• Get your reading engines running with Horse Powered Reading at UpReach (153 Paige Hill Road in Goffstown), a program to help kids ages 8 and up build and strengthen reading skills by connecting with horses, according to a press release. Classes start Monday, March 11, and will run through April 15, from 5 to 6 p.m. Space is limited and the cost is $200 per student; financial aid is available. Visit upreachtec.org or reach out to [email protected].
• Get reading and dancing at Water Street Bookstore (125 Water St., Exeter, waterstreetbooks.com) with a book-signing launch party for Mary McCrary The Irish Dance Fairy on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be Irish step dancers and giveaways at the event.
Science time
• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover) for Science Fridays. The first session, Friday, March 8, runs from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and the second session runs from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Each week is a new experiment, and your ticket is included with regular Museum admission. Science Friday drop-in programs engage children in experiments and activities that focus on fun and act as a jumping-off point for learning about science concepts, according to a press release. Museum admission is $12.50 for adults & children over 12 months of age, $10.50 for seniors age 65+, and free for Children’s Museum of New Hampshire members as well as children under 12 months of age. Visit childrens-museum.org to sign up for a spot.
All aboard the Maple Express
• Hop on the Maple Express at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia) to celebrate Maple Month on Saturday, March 9; Sunday March 10; Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17 (March 8 and March 15 for school groups) with multiple admission times throughout the day starting at 10 a.m. with the last train departing at 2 p.m. The horse-drawn or tractor train ride transports you into the heart of maple sugaring within a thriving farm and is designed for all ages, according to a press release. Participants will stop at an authentic maple syrup shack and learn about the maple trees, and tastings are encouraged. Admission is $29, free for children 23 months and under. Go to www.visitthefarm.com.
Save the date
• Kitty-Corn! Author Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham visit Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. for a storytime with their newest book, Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn. The two also worked together on Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, as well as the Princess in Black series. Hale is the author of several YA books as well as the adult novel Austenland. See more about Hale at shannonhale.com and find Pham on Instagram @uyenloseordraw.
