Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 24/08/08

Dear Donna,

I’m checking with you for advice. I have inherited this pair of sterling silver marked Gorham candlesticks. They are in good condition but in need of cleaning. Should I clean and what would you recommend if yes?

Ann

Dear Ann,

Good question, to clean sterling silver or not! Gorham has been around since the early 1800s. Gorham Silver, later Gorham Manufacturing Co., was a very well-known producer of quality silver — not just candlesticks but many other items as well. The company was located in Providence, Rhode Island, and had a long and interesting history.

Cleaning silver is to me a personal choice. It needs to be done correctly. There are many cleaning and polishing products you can use. Just follow the instructions and never use anything abrasive. A hint for cleaning is don’t bother unless you want to keep doing it. The exposure to sir, sun etc. will tarnish it again. So if you’re just going to keep them for family history, pack them in cloth and an airtight bag and store away. Sterling silver is beautiful and reflective, but a lot of work keeping that way as well.

The value of your pair of weighted Gorham candlesticks is in the range of $250+. (Weighted silver is a thin coat of silver over sand or cement, mostly used in the base for stabilizing.) Nice treasure to inherit! Thanks for sharing.

Kiddie Pool 24/08/08

Family fun for whenever

Screen time

• O’neil Cinemas Brickyard Square (24 Calef Highway, Epping, oneilcinemas.com) runs a summer kids series that started on Monday, June 24, with shows on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The screening for their last week is Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (PG, 2018) on Monday, Aug. 12, and Wednesday, Aug. 14.

• On Monday, Aug. 12, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982) will be screened as part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival Movie Nights in Prescott Park in Portsmouth. Suggested donation is $5 per person and there’s an 8:30 p.m. start time. Concessions will be available for sale.

• Cinemark Rockingham Park (15 Mall Road, Salem, cinemark.com) is screening kid-friendly films on Wednesdays at 10 a.m and will be screening the last installment of the series with Paddington 2 (PG, 2017) on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Fests and fairs

• The Town of Windham Recreation Department will host a Food Truck Festival and Car Show on the grounds of Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham) on Sunday, Aug. 11. In addition to yummy eats from local food trucks, there will be music and games of cornhole. For details contact the Windham Recreation office at 965-1208 or [email protected].

• Don’t miss the 16th annual Hampton Beach Children’s Festival, Monday, Aug. 12, through Friday, Aug. 16. The event includes ice cream, dancing, balloons, storytelling, a magic show and a costume parade. All activities are free and open to the public. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/ childrens-events for details as they become available.

• Hudson’s Old Home Days return Thursday, Aug. 8, to Sunday, Aug. 11, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, cow pie bingo, fireworks, food and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonoldhomedays.com.

Sports

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball, are in the middle of a home series with the Erie SeaWolves, a Detroit Tigers affiliate, that runs until Sunday, Aug. 12. Highlights of the series include a Sitcom Night on Thursday, Aug. 8, and a celebration of the ’90s on Saturday, Aug. 10, where attendees who bring in Beanie Babies get in free and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a clear fanny pack. Fireworks are scheduled for after the game on Saturday. Games Thursday through Saturday are at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 1:35 p.m. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Puppets and costumes

• Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center (26 Main St., Peterborough, 924-4555, mariposamuseum.org) is a museum of art and artifacts from around the world that includes hands-on exhibits with costumes, puppets, instruments and more for children to explore. One of their current exhibitions is “Tradition and Revolution in Indian Shadow Puppetry,” put on in collaboration with the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut and curated by Rahul Koonathara, celebrating the spectacular South Indian shadow puppet traditions of Tolu, Bommalatta and Tholpavakoothu, according to their website. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids ages 3 through 16 but is free for members.

Treasure Hunt 24/08/01

Hello, Donna,

These paper dolls are special to my heart. My Mickey is missing an arm. I am not ready to sell but would like to know if they have value. I’m hoping to pass along and hope they still qualify as safe to play with. Mickey and Minnie have been played with through a couple of our generations in the family.

Thank you, Donna, for your input.

Camille

Dear Camille,

Who doesn’t love Mickey and Minnie Mouse in any form!

Your paper dolls are an earlier set, but there have been many sets since. Hard to believe so many made it through time, with children who heavily played with paper dolls in general. Even in my earlier years in the 1960s I loved my paper dolls.

Camille, I found a few sets like yours and values were in the $20-$70 range. If they were in uncut and used condition they would be higher, but in used really loved condition I would say the lower end of value. The clothes would be valuable to a collector who might have missing ones.

As far as passing along, yes let another generation experience the fun of imaginary play. We need more of that these days!

Thanks for sharing with us, Camille. I hope they find a new family home. Even though older things hold a high value if they were never used, memories are always priceless!

Kiddie Pool 24/08/01

Family fun for whenever

Fairs

• The Belknap County Fair is set to return on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. The fair features live entertainment, food, exhibits and animal shows. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 65 and older, police, fire and EMS personnel, and free for kids under 10 and for military service members. Visit bcfairnh.org.

• The 2024 Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee, nhsunflower.com) runs daily through Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. See the website for admission prices. See the blooming fields and then enjoy live music, an artisan craft fair, food and more.

Theater

• The Palace Youth Theatre Summer Camp presents Jungle Book, Kids, on Friday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). The student actors are in grades 2 through 12. Tickets start at $12.

• Camp Encore! presents Descendants, the Musical, on Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. at the Wilcox Main Stage in Prescott Park (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney’s Descendants: The Musical is a brand-new musical with comedy, adventure, Disney characters and hit songs from the films. Tickets start at $5; reservations can be made at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• High in a tower, surprises await as a fair maiden longs for a friend, an old crone longs for an understanding daughter, and a seagull longs for some crackers in the Impact Touring Children’s Theatre’s performance of Rapunzel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m. at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). This is a free performance. Seating for this show is mostly on the open floor. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets.

Treats

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) presents a tasty and educational program, “Homemade Dairy and Non-Dairy Ice Cream,” on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about how to make ice cream. This program is open to youth and adults. The cost is $15 for members and $30 for nonmembers.

Movies

• The Nashua Summer Fun program has a “Pic in the Park” scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2, at dusk when The Marvels (PG-13, 2023) will screen at the Greeley Park Bandshell (100 Concord St., Nashua). See nashuanh.gov.

• The Milford Drive-In Theater (531 Elm St., Milford) has two screens for movie screenings Wednesday through Sunday. Movies start at 8:45 p.m. with the box office opening at 7:15 p.m. but opening at 6:45 p.m.on Friday and Saturday nights, according to their website. Each screen shows two movies. Starting Friday, Aug. 2,Despicable Me 4(PG, 2024) is the opening film on Screen 2, followed by Twisters (PG-13, 2024). Tickets are $33 per car (up to six people) and $6 for each additional person. Visit milforddrivein.com or call 660-6711.

Kiddie Pool 24/07/25

Family fun for whenever

On stage

• The Palace Youth Theatre Summer Camp presents Newsies, Jr.on Friday, July 26, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 27, at 11 a.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). The student actors are in grades 2 through 12. Tickets start at $12.

• Catch Rock of Ages, Youth Edition on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). Set on L.A.’s famous Sunset Strip in 1987, Rock of Ages tells the story of Drew, a city boy from South Detroit, and Sherrie, a small-town girl, who have both traveled to L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. Tickets are $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for students and seniors.

On screen

• Downtown Summer Series Movie Nights feature screenings in Manchester’s Veterans Park (723 Elm St.). Concessions are available for purchase.Monsters, Inc.(G, 2001) will be screened on Wednesday, July 31, at dusk.

• Movie Night Mondays On the Beach at Hampton Beach feature screenings at dusk on the large screen next to the playground, weather permitting (rain date is Tuesday). Admission is free. On Monday, July 29, the film to be screened is Mummies (PG, 2023)

Insects

• Head to Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) for Fireflies Light Up the Sky on Saturday, July 27, from 7 to 8 p.m. to learn about fireflies and see them in action. This is for ages 12 and older. The cost is $15 for nonmembers.

• The second annual Capital Area New Hampshire Butterfly Survey will take place on Saturday, July 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NH Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) to gather long-term butterfly data to understand the changing ranges of butterfly species over time and support statewide conservation efforts. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Cooking

• On Wednesday, July 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) will host an event called “Culinary Explorers: No Cook Recipes In-Person,” for those in grades K-5, according to their website. Participants will use all five senses to create a culinary masterpiece while practicing kitchen safety, working on chef vocabulary and fine motor skills, and trying new foods. There will be two “no-cook” dishes created during this program, which is billed as “vegetarian and nut-free.” Visit nashualibrary.org

Frolic in the fields

• The 2024 Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee, nhsunflower.com) takes place Saturday, July 27, through Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (plus a special sunrise session on July 28). See the website for admission prices. Visit the blooming fields and then enjoy live music, an artisan craft fair, food and more.

Magic

• The Manchester Public Library on Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. will host magician BJ Hickman, who has been reviewed as “a master of the double-take and one who connects with wonderful audience rapport,” for their “Family Fare” program at the library, according to the website. Hickman is credited with being “the magician who keeps getting invited back,” and is a member of The International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) and went on to become an “Order of Merlin-Shield,” according to their website. His one-man magic show is suitable for audiences of all ages to enjoy, according to their website. In the event of rain the program will be held in the library auditorium. For more information contact Mary Gallant at 624-6550, ext. 7611, or visit manchester.lib.nh.us.

Meet the author

• Children’s author Celia Botto will visit Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester, bookerymht.com) on Saturday, July 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to talk about her upcoming book When Ayden Paints the Sky, illustrated by Samantha Lane Fiddy. All ages are welcome.

Treasure Hunt 24/07/25

Dear Donna,

I can’t tell you how this ended up in my mom’s kitchen drawer. It says Jabel and it’s dated 1916. Can you share any information about it with me? Keep it or throw it away?

Thank you, Donna,

Lee

Dear Lee,

I’ve got to say I’m smiling thinking of how many unusual items are found in estates. Would like to know the original story of how it got there!

I remember my mom having a junk drawer in our kitchen. It too had anything and everything in it.

Your piece is a Jabel Rings stone gauge for sizing. Jabel was in Newark, N.J., opening in 1916.

The tool works by placing the gemstones in holes and round flats to determine a size. If you look really close you should be able to see carat sizes on one side and millimeters on the other side. It’s a very neat and helpful jeweler’s tool. How that works and how it got into your mom’s kitchen? Hmm, maybe to use for stripping herbs?

The value of your little treasure is in the $50 range. I hope this was helpful, Lee.

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