Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/07/13

Hello, Donna.

Picked these tickets up at a yard sale last year. Would these be valuable today? I found them interesting.

Debbie in Candia

Dear Debbie,

Pine Island Park is a big part of Manchester’s history. It opened in the early 1900s and closed in the early 1960s. The story is a long and interesting one, worth researching..

I have seen many pieces of memorabilia from the park — souvenirs, trinkets, park benches etc. Even though I was just a child when the park closed, I always enjoyed owning a piece of memorabilia.

I have seen tickets for as much as $10 each. So yes, they have value, I think, to anyone who wants a piece of Manchester’s history and amusement park pieces. Thanks for sharing, Debbie, and putting a smile on my face.

Treasure Hunt 23/07/06

Dear Donna,

Can you tell me anything about these folks? There is a stamp that says ‘Japan’ on the bottom. They are my wife’s and we have never used them. What do you think?

Thank you.

Bob

Dear Bob,

My first reaction is how fun for a barbecue even today!

With no maker or company name on these skewers, we can’t figure that out. I can tell from the style of the “Japan” mark they were imported into the U.S. after 1921.

They do look to be from the period from mid-century to the 1970s. The condition is excellent and clean. I think having the set complete is a plus. I like the assortment of characters as well.

Value should be around $50 to a collector. Depending on how you market them it could be less, to a buyer for resale.

Hope this was helpful, Bob. Thanks for sharing your fun barbecue items.

Kiddie Pool 23/07/06

Family fun for the weekend

See art for free

• New Hampshire residents get free admission to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) Saturday, July 8, as part of the museum’s Second Saturday program. Among the museum’s current exhibits is “Celebrating the Art and Life of Tomie dePaola” coinciding with the release of a U.S. Postal Service Forever stamp commemorating the author and illustrator of about 270 children’s books, according to the Currier’s website. DePaola, who died in 2020, was a longtime New Hampshire resident and taught at New Hampshire colleges, the website said.

Play ball!

• The Nashua Silver Knights, playing in the Future Collegiate Baseball League of New England, have four home games at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) in the next seven days. The Silver Knights will play the New Britain Bees on Thursday, July 6, at 6 p.m.; the Vermont Lake Monsters on Friday, July 7, at 6 p.m.; the Lake Monsters again on Tuesday, July 11, at 6 p.m., and the Pittsfield Suns on Wednesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. Single game tickets cost $10; see nashuasilverknights.com.

Movie time

• Join the swashbuckling cat in the animated adventure Puss in Boots: The Last Wish(PG, 2022), the Summer Kids Series movie at O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) for Monday, July 10, and Wednesday, July 13, with screenings at 10 a.m. both days. Tickets cost $3 per person and the theater and the theater offers an $8 popcorn-and-drink combo for the screenings as well.

• Concord’s Regal Cinemas (282 Loudon Road, Concord, regmovies.com) will feature Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (PG)and Paw Patrol: The Movie (G) on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12, with screenings of both movies both days at 2 p.m. as part of its Summer Movie Express Series, which features $2 tickets.

Stories in the garden

Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road in Canterbury; petalsinthepines.com) presents “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” at an in-the-garden reading and performance that will also feature some post-performance kids activities Friday, July 7, through Sunday, July 9, at 1:15 p.m. each day, according to a press release. The cost is $7 per child, $5 for adults and reservacations are required; see petalsinthepines.com/the-tale-of-peter-rabbit.

Treasure Hunt 23/06/29

Dear Donna,

Can you tell me if people even still use alarm clocks? This was in my parents’ home for years. It still works fine. I just don’t have a need for it any longer.

Does it have value to someone?

Thanks, Donna.

Kate

Dear Kate,

I bet there are many people that still use alarm clocks — electric ones, and maybe some people even still use wind-ups.

Your Big Ben clock is from the early 1900s and looks like one of the first models. Westclox Co. has an interesting history. Your clock working is a plus for you, Kate. The value would be in the range of $60 to a collector or decorator. Who doesn’t love the look and charm of an antique timepiece?

Thanks for sharing with us, Kate. I hope you find time to find your clock a new home.

Kiddie Pool 23/06/29

Family fun for the weekend

Outside fun

• The first Hopkinton Field Fun Day is going to be on Thursday, June 29, starting at 10 a.m. at the town library (61 Houston Drive, Contoocook). The event will be filled with fun and games for visitors of all ages. Visit hopkintontownlibrary.org for more information.

• The New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro) is having a Lake Discovery Day on Thursday, June 29, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Kids will learn about boating safety and the world under the water and on the shore through different activities and craft projects. Admission is free. For more information visit nhbm.org.

• Kids can hang out with kids — meaning baby goats — at Rochester Blue Seal (275 Portland St.) for its baby goat day on Friday, June 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Baby goats will be provided by Denbow Acres Farm for the makeshift petting zoo. For more information visit blueseal.com.

• Get your engines running for high-octane fun at the New England Dragway (280 Exeter St., Epping) with the Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings on Friday, June 30, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 1, at 2 p.m. Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings is a group of racers that have a reality television show documenting their experiences doing racing without any preparation on the cars or tracks. Tickets cost $30 for general admission, free for kids 12 and younger. To buy tickets visit nedragway.com.

• Earth Child New England is hosting an Inclusive Nature Immersion Event on Saturday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to noon at Mine Falls Park in Nashua. The event will have a gentle nature walk for children, as well as yoga, mindfulness, social skills and nature-based learning. The event is $30 per child, $15 for each additional sibling. To purchase tickets go to forms.gle/aMi3YmeMT4UPM28Y6

Theater extravaganza

• The Educational Theater Collaborative, Plymouth State University’s summer camp for kids ages 8 to 14, is putting on an original play called Team Up Together at The Flying Monkey (39 Main St., Plymouth) at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 30. Tickets to the show cost $10, $5 for children. Tickets can be purchased online at flyingmonkeynh.com.

• The 2023 Bank of New HampshireChildren’s Summer Series at The Palace (80 Hanover St., Manchester) begins with renowned children’s magician BJ Hickman Wednesday, July 5, with shows at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per child and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Kiddie Pool 23/06/22

Family fun for the weekend

Festival time

• The Nest Family Café (20 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry) is hosting Nest Fest! on Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live music, games and crafts for the kids, a variety of vendors, a picnic area and a fire truck visit. The event is free to attend with any purchase at the café. For more information, visit the café’s website at thenestfamilycafe.com.

• Summerfest by the Wilton Main Street Association is back on Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m. There will be an arts market, live music, food, street vendors, and fireworks in the evening. In the morning there will be a pancake breakfast. The rain date is Sunday, June 25. For more information visit visitwilton.com/summerfest.

• Independence Day is coming early to Pelham for its annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, June 24, starting at 6 p.m. There will be fair food like hot dogs, hamburgers, kettle corn, fried dough, strawberry shortcake and more. There will also be plenty of entertainment in the form of games, live music, face painting and, of course, fireworks. For more information about this event, visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org.

Movie night

• Regal Cinemas (282 Loudon Road, Concord) is starting its Summer Movie Express series this week. There will be discounted movie screenings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from now until Sept. 6. The next movies in the lineup are Sonic the Hedgehog (2020, PG) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019, PG), will both screen on June 27 and June 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $2 per person. Purchase at regmovies.com.

Outdoor fun

• Monday, June 26, is the first day of Greater Derry Track Club’s Kids Summer Fun Runs. These fun runs will be held behind the Londonderry High School (295 Mammoth Road), with start time at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue every Monday through July 31. Registration deadline is Saturday, June 24, and it is free to register. Bib pickup will be earlier in the evening on the night of the first race. Kids 3 and younger run 50 yards, ages 4 to 6 run 200 meters, ages 7 and 8 run 300 meters, ages 9 and 10 run 600 meters, and ages 11 to 13 run the cross-country mile. Runners 14 and older do not need to register but can run the open mile after the younger runners are done. To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Londonderry/GDTCkids.

• Construct a palace fit for royalty at the Sandcastle Building Contest at Max Cohen Memorial Grove (3 Mason Road, Brookline) on Tuesday, June 27. Builders can begin construction whenever they choose, but must have finished their castles by 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit brooklinenh.us.

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