Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 24/06/27

Dear Donna,

Found these pennies at a flea market over the weekend. We paid $10 for all of them. Can you give me any information on them?

Thank you, Donna.

Tim

Dear Tim,

Coins are a field of their own and not one I have the most experience in. It’s a very interesting and complex collectible market and some can be very, very valuable.

Your pennies are from 1943 and if you’re lucky maybe you have one dated 1944. The 1943 wheat penny was made to conserve copper during World War II. They were made of steel with a zinc coating. Beware, though, some of the values are in the mint marks and other conditions that either enhance the values or take away from it. As with everything there are reproductions out there. Sad but true!

The average value of a steel penny in good condition is a few dollars. In order for you to get a real value they must be seen by a professional. This is a must should you have a treasure.

Tim, even if you have only a few dollars in steel pennies, the education you’re going to get from them will be priceless. Some of your work could be done via a guide to collecting coins or online. Don’t assume, though — have them looked at! Good luck, Tim, and I hope you found a treasure or two.

Kiddie Pool 24/06/27

Family fun for whenever

Nature and a story

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will be hosting its StoryWalk kickoff reception at the Curry Place (846 Route 3, Holderness) on Friday, June 28, at 10 a.m. Attendees can stroll along the Squam channel as they read a nature-inspired story posted one page at a time along the trail. Children can participate in a craft and enjoy a snack connected to the story at the reception. It’s free and there’s no registration required. Visit nhnature.org. The Center’s live animal exhibit trail and hiking trails are open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m., according to the website.

On stage

• The Impact Touring Children’s Theatre will perform The Emperor’s New Clothes on Tuesday, July 2, 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 to sit on.

• Kidz Bop Live comes to the BankNH Pavilion (80 Recycle Way, Gilford, 293-4700, banknhpavilion.com) on Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

Movies!

• Kids Series O’neil Cinemas Brickyard Square (24 Calef Highway, Epping, oneilcinemas.com) features Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem(PG, 2023) on Monday, July 1, and Wednesday, July 3, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• The Park Theatre’s Kids Summer Movie-Rama continues in Jaffrey with Peter Rabbit (PG, 2018) on Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m. and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (PG, 2018) on Tuesday, July 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. Tickets are $7. Visit theparktheatre.org/kids or call 532-8888.

Treasure Hunt 24/06/20

Hi, Donna!

I read your column each week in the Hippo!! I am hoping you can help us out. We have an antique fire extinguisher. Do you know if this is worth anything? I was going to donate it to a historical society. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Donna Lee

Dear Donna Lee,

Your extinguisher makes me smile. Back in my days of owning an antique center they were very collectible and were all cleaned and polished, then either stood in a room or were made into lamps.

Not sure if they are collectible for the same reasons today. But they do have a value in the range of $100 and higher in some cases. I do think donating items to a local historical society is a great thing. Some things such as antique fire extinguishers were made en masse and there are still too many around today. You could still check to see if it is something they might want.

No matter what you decide, Donna Lee, you have an interesting piece of history. Thanks for sharing.

Kiddie Pool 24/06/20

Family fun for whenever

Summer party

• The YMCA of Downtown Manchester will host its Rock the Block event on Mechanic Street on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities at this free event include games, crafts, music, a bounce house, food and drink and a free swim (bring a bathing suit and towel if you’re interested), according to the website. In addition, if you join the YMCA on that day you’ll pay no join fee. Visit graniteymca.org.

Search for adventure

• This weekend, Charmingfare Farm (744 High St., Candia) holds a “Scouting for Bigfoot ” event on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, with entry times from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a guided tour through the serene woodlands of the farm, a perfect setting for Bigfoot sightings, according to the website. This family-friendly excursion blends education with excitement, offering interactive activities and engaging discussions, the website said. Tickets range from $23 to $33. Visit visitthefarm.org.

Game time

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball, is in the middle of a home stand at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) until Sunday, June 23, at 1:35 p.m. against the Reading Fightin Phils. On Thursday the Fisher Cats get ferocious as they transform into Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire and battle for Copa de la Diversión (The Fun Cup!), according to their website. On Friday, June 21, they present the Oral Health Challenge from Northeast Delta Dental, who want to reward children under 12 who brush and floss their teeth for seven days straight with two free tickets (they’ll need to fill out a form online). There will be fireworks following the game on Saturday, June 22, and a Super Bros. inspired brunch before the 1:35 p.m. game on Sunday, June 23. (tickets to the brunch come with tickets to the game). Vist milb.com/new-hampshire.

• NASCAR Weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon) Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, includes the SciAps 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. Tickets vary in price, depending on the race. See nhms.com.

• The Major League Soccer team the New England Revolution II will play this Sunday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at Mark A. Ouellette Stadium (Victory Lane in Hooksett) against Crown Legacy. Tickets start at $12. Visit revolutionsoccer.net/revolutionii.

• The six-time champion Nashua Silver Knights, members of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, will have three home games in a row at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) starting on Friday, June 21, against the Worcester Bravehearts, then on Saturday, June 22, against the Norwich Sea Unicorns, on Sunday, June 23, against the Westfield Starfires. First pitch on Friday and Saturday night is scheduled for 6 p.m. and first pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., according to their website. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

Kiddie Pool 24/06/13

Family fun for whenever

Bees!

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) will host a workshop called “Inside the Beehive” on Saturday, June 15, at 1 p.m. The workshop is open to youth and adults, will involve a local raw honey tasting, and costs $15 for nonmembers, according to their website.

Get out, get artsy

• Manchester City Library will hold an Escape Room on Tuesday, June 17, at 9:30 a.m. for children between grades 3 and 12, according to their website. There is a different style of escape room every week and registration is required, according to their website. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us.

• Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester) is offering week-long art and clay camps that run Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. this summer and are taught by studio staff who have over 30 cumulative years of experience working with kids, according to a press release. Teen/Tween Clay Camps are open to kids 10 or older focusing on pottery wheel skills. There are three sessions: Session 1 from June 24 to June 28; Session 2 from July 22 to July 26; Session 3 from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16. Teen Illustration Camp explores character design through drawing and watercolors and is also open to kids 10 or older; there is only one session and that runs from July 29 to Aug. 2. And Art Explorer Camps are open to kids 8 or older and will include drawing/painting projects, clay sculpting and a chance to try the pottery wheel. There are two sessions: Arts Explorer Camp Session 1 from July 8 to July 12, and Arts Explorer Camp Session 2 runs from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9, according to the release. Visit 550arts.com.

Movie day

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, chunkys.com) has some special screenings on the schedule. Trolls Band Together(PG, 2023) will screen at Chunky’s on Tuesday, June 18, at 11:30 a.m. Reserve a seat with a $5 food voucher (plus fees).

On Wednesday, June 19, at 12:30 p.m. Chunky’s will hold a sensory-friendly screening of Inside Out 2 (PG, 2024), the newest Pixar movie which is opening in theaters this Friday, June 14.

• The Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org) kicks off its summer kids movie series, which will run through the end of July, with Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (PG, 2022) on Tuesday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m..

Treasure Hunt 24/06/13

Dear Donna,

Thought you would enjoy this couple. I’m not sure but I think my grandmother made them. They are all hand stitched and have tiny nuts for heads. I know they are in tough condition but I can’t just toss them. What are your thoughts about possibly finding them a new home?

Thanks, Donna, for any information.

Tracy

Dear Tracy,

You are right! They are sweet.

Your grandmother could have made them but it’s tough to tell now. They are from the middle to late 1800s if that helps. They are not that uncommon either. I have seen many different versions throughout my career.

Nut dolls, apple head dolls, and later clothespin dolls are around. Some are considered a form of folk art. Yours definitely fall into that category. Being in tough condition doesn’t help, but there are collectors for them. The older the better, and the more detail the better as well. I find yours very charming. I would say they would run in the $100 range to a collector.

Tracy, I hope this was helpful. I also agree not to toss them and do find them a new home. Try bringing them to a local antique store near you. Remember they can’t pay full value because they will have to sell them too.

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, NH 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.

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, NH 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.

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