Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/08/24

Hello, Donna,

Can you help me identify this piece of iron? It looks to be all there but I can’t figure it out. Thinking maybe to hold a lamp?

Thanks ahead for any help.

Skip

Dear Skip,

You are right, it is all there, but it wasn’t meant for a lamp. It’s a Victorian gutter holder.

How beautiful it must have been to see several of these in a row holding up a rain gutter. Built to last and have beauty to them too.

The value for one might be minimal. The value for a dozen or so would be in the $200+ range. If you own a Victorian home today a priceless find.

Thanks, Skip, for sharing.

Treasure Hunt 23/08/17

Dear Donna,

My wife and I spotted this set of items at an estate sale in Manchester. They were in the old kitchen, where there were many types of baking molds. But we’re not sure about these.

They are very heavy metal and seem to be more decorative than utilitarian. We “negotiated” and paid a couple bucks for them. They make nice candle holders on our porch table.

Thanking you in advance.

Scott

Nashua

Dear Scott,

Even though I think the form of the flower cups is sweet, I think they could be modern and you are right to say decorative. Sometimes even modern items have charm and a place in our home. That’s coming from an antique enthusiast! (ha ha)

With no markings on them, appraisal can be tough. But all the pictures you sent were helpful. I do think you got a treasure for the price. As far as a modern value on them, I think that’s in the eye of the buyer. Having a purpose for them makes them priceless to you and your wife.

Thanks for sharing and keep going to those estate sales. You never know what you can find.

Kiddie Pool 23/08/17

Family fun for the weekend

Summer shows

• The 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series has two shows left at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org): Catch Frozen Kids Thursday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. The series then wraps up with Finding Nemo Jr. Tuesday, Aug. 22, through Friday, Aug. 25, with shows at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. on Friday. Tickets cost $10.

• The Palace Youth Theatre also has two upcoming shows featuring young performers (campers in grades 2 through 12). On Friday, Aug. 18, and Saturday, Aug. 19, both at 7 p.m., catch High School Musical Jr.On Saturday, Aug. 26, at noon, see Winnie the Pooh Jr. Tickets for either show start at $12.

Beach fun

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival wraps up with events Thursday, Aug. 17, and Friday, Aug. 18. On Thursday activities include a performance by magician Fran Flynn at 12:30 p.m., ice cream with the lifeguards at 1:15 p.m. and paint with Alyssa Pine at 2 p.m. On Friday, the children’s costume parade will start at 11 a.m. (meet up at 10:15 a.m.) and there will be a performance by Mr. Aaron at noon. Most of the events take place at the Hampton Beach Sea Shell stage; see hamptonbeach.org.

• Also at the beach: There are four more evenings of fireworks scheduled at Hampton Beach at the top of B and C streets — Wednesdays, Aug. 23 and Aug. 30; Sunday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 9. All fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Monday night movies on the beach next to the playground also continue through August with Strange World (PG, 2022) on Monday, Aug. 21, at 7:40 p.m. and Sing 2 (PG, 2021) on Monday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m., according to hamptonbeach.org.

Audition call

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) is seeking an actor between the age of 8 and 18 who is able to play 12 for the role of “Young Simon” in the October-November professional production of Kinky Boots. Auditions are open to BIPOC talents of all genders who are 5 feet 2 inches and under, according to a press release. Virtual submissions can be sent to [email protected]; include a current picture, resume and short video of vocal abilities, the release said.

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org) have upcoming auditions for two shows. Auditions for an October production of James & the Giant Peach Jr. are slated for Wednesday, Aug. 23, and Thursday, Aug. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 14. Auditions for a November Teen Mainstage production of Beauty and the Beast will be held Sunday, Aug. 27, and Monday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Schedule an audition time and find all the details on the website.

Kiddie Pool 23/08/10

Family fun for the weekend

Try-athalon

• The 11th Annual Friends of Aine Kids’ Try-athlon will be held Sunday, Aug. 13, in the morning at the Bedford Town Pool (County Road near the intersection with Nashua Road). The race features three events — swimming (25 or 50 yards, depending on age), running (½ mile or 1 mile) and biking (1 or 2 miles) — and is a fundraiser for the Friends of Aine Center for Grieving Children & Families (friendsofaine.com). Registration costs $40 per child. Race day registration starts at 6:30 a.m., Nashua and County roads close at 7:30 a.m. and all bikes must be in the swim-to-bike transition area by 7:45 p.m. A pre-race meeting is at 7:45 a.m. and then the older group (ages 11 to 15) begin the Try-Athlon at 8 a.m., adaptive athletes start at 8:25 a.m., ages 8 to 10 start at 8:30 a.m. and ages 4 to 7 start at 8:45 a.m., according to the schedule at friendsofaine.com, which also explains course details, where to park and what to bring.

Baseball & wizards

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats were slated to begin a six-day stretch of games against the Fightin Phils (Reading, Pennsylvania.) on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Games on Thursday, Aug. 10, and Saturday, Aug. 12, (both beginning at 7:05 p.m.) will feature post-game Atlas Fireworks. Saturday is also “Wizards & Wands” night. The game on Friday, Aug. 11, at 7:05 p.m. celebrates UNH Men’s Soccer; on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 1:35 p.m. the first 1,000 fans receive a cooler courtesy of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast.

Movies!

• 2004’s Shark Tale(PG) will screen at all three area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) on Monday, Aug. 14, at 11:30 a.m. as part of the theater’s Little Lunch Date series, when the lights will be slightly dimmed. Reserve a seat with a $5 per person food voucher.

• O’neil Cinemas (Brickyard Square 24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com)will screen the final movie of its Summer Kids Series on Monday, Aug. 14, and Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 10 a.m. Catch 2016’sThe Secret Life of Pets (PG), which features the voices of Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Lake Bell. Tickets cost $3 and the theater also has an $8 popcorn-and-drink combo as well.

Registration is open!

• …for so many fall events but specifically for Girls on the Run, which opened its registration for the fall on Aug. 7. Find a location to register for the program (which puts you in a lottery for available slots) at girlsontherunnh.org. The after-school running program is open to 3rd through 5th graders and 6th through 8th graders, the website said. Registration is open through Aug. 17 with the season beginning Sept. 11. A culminating 5K takes place on Nov. 18. Girls age 16 to 18 can also register for a junior coach program.

• Looking for more afters-chool excitement for your kids? Check out next week’s issue, which will feature our annual guide to extracurriculars. If you know of a program featuring art, dance, sports or stop-motion animation (really!), let us know at [email protected] for possible inclusion in the listing.

Treasure Hunt 23/08/10

Good morning, Donna.

I’m wondering if you appraise 33 and 45 records. Or can you help with someone who can for me? They are earlier musicians from before the 1970s.

Thank you.

Marie

Dear Marie,

I thought your question was an important one. Even though records are not in my direct field, I have had many over the years through estates.

They seem to be collectible in this generation. Marie, I would start off by contacting a record store directly (I used to deal with The Music Connection in Manchester) to see if they could provide you info and possibly purchase as well. If not, they might have outside sources for that purpose.

My personal experience is that condition is important and prices for original ones with cover etc. can range from $1 to over $100.

I hope this was helpful, Marie, and good luck with your records.

Donna

Treasure Hunt 23/08/03

Dear Donna,

Is this pizza cutting board old? I recently picked this up at a flea market and I’m wondering. Thanks so much for any information.

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

First let’s tell you what this is: a German bread board. Sometimes you can pick up some that are old. Most, though, are still being used, in Germany and other countries. They aren’t used for cutting pizza at all. Pizza paddles can be wood but a totally different shape. That’s why you probably don’t see any cut marks on it.

They are sweet and still useful decorative pieces. Very collectible, so depending on what you spent for it you could have a little large treasure. The values run in the range of $100 to $200. Older ones are preferred, but even modern ones have high values too.

Thanks for sharing with us, Sandy, and enjoy your find. They look great hung on a wall when not in use.

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