Kiddie Pool 21/03/04

Family fun for the weekend

Scientific discoveries

After being closed for renovations for a couple months, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord) is reopening on March 5, with hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Occupancy limits have been set for popular exhibits and planetarium shows, and stringent Covid-19 cleaning and safety procedures will be in effect as the museum reopens. This Friday the discovery center will also hold its virtual Super Stellar Friday program at 7 p.m.; this month’s topic is “Mystery & Majesty of Saturn’s Rings.” The event is free, but registration is required at starhop.com.

Walk on the wild side

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road, Holderness) hosts several Wild Winter Walks this month, starting Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, with sessions from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m. The program is for adults and families with children ages 6 and up. A staff naturalist will lead a guided walk on the live animal exhibit trail and will talk about how these native animals adapt for winter in New Hampshire. Snowshoes are available at no extra cost, if needed, or participants can bring their own. The cost is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required for all programs at nhnature.org or by calling 968-7194. Other upcoming Wild Winter Walks are scheduled for Saturday, March 13, and Saturday, March 20 (sess

Treasure Hunt 21/02/25

Dear Donna,

I had considered having this clock converted to battery-operated and then began to research. I believe it is a George Nelson for Howard Miller sunburst spike clock. If so, I think it would be best to leave it unaltered! I love this fun clock from my childhood home, but it’s not in character with my own home. Would you know the value for this, and how would you recommend I sell it?

June

Dear June,

Any antique or collectible that is in running and good condition is best left alone.

Your Howard Miller clock is very collectible and I found prices all over the place, from $150 to $300. Some of the clocks from the same period of time — 1960s to 1970s — brought an even higher value.

Mid-century items are the in thing right now so I am thinking if your clock is working you should be able to get in the range of $150 to a reseller or try for the collector online yourself. My personal suggestion would be to tuck it away for now. It’s money in the bank as long as you noted your information with it for future generations.

Kiddie Pool 21/02/25

Family fun for the weekend

Bounce and climb
Cowabunga’s (725 Huse Road, Manchester, 935-9659, cowabungas.com) has extended hours for February vacation week, with public play times this Thursday, Feb. 25, and Friday, Feb. 26, from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets must be ordered ahead of time online. The cost is $12 per hour per child, or two hours for $15, or for $19.99 get three hours of bounce time and a kids meal.
Nuthin’ but Good Times (746 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2200, nuthinbutgoodtimes.com) is also open for the remainder of vacation week, on Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Climbing is open to the public during those hours, and there is no time limit. Admission is free for infants, $2.50 for crawlers, $6 for ages 3 and under, $9.50 for ages 4 through 17, and $2.50 for ages 18+.

Try tubing
Let the kids get out some energy outside. For the rest of the vacation week, Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245) is open for tubing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The cost is $24 for a two-hour session, and advance online reservations are required. Only Pats Peak tubes are allowed and they are included in the cost. Children must be at least 5 years old and at least 44 inches tall. Visit patspeak.com to make a reservation.
McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Ct., Manchester, 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com) also offers tubing, though reservations are not accepted. Tickets must be purchased at the ticket window, and it is first come, first served. Tickets are $23 for a two-hour session. For vacation week, hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, with sessions broken into two-hour time slots. According to the McIntyre website, tickets go on sale 30 minutes prior to each session, but it is recommended that you arrive an hour to an hour and a half prior to the session to get in line for tickets.

Virtual homeschool
On Thursday, March 4, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (Holderness, 968-7194, nhnature.org) will host its monthly virtual homeschool series for ages 4 to 10. On the first Thursday of each month, participants are introduced to a seasonal topic and are provided with an outdoor investigation to complete at home. The following Thursday, students share their observations and discoveries and “meet” a live animal that connects to the topic. Virtual sessions are held via Zoom, and adults are expected to participate with their kids. The cost is $11 per child per month, or $22 per family per month. Register online or by calling.

Treasure Hunt 21/02/18

Dear Donna,

My 95-year-old father recently sent me this antique creamer. (At least I think it’s a creamer!) It was handed down to him from his mother. It’s about 5.25 inches long, four inches wide and 2 inches high. My dad was curious about it and wondered what it’s worth. I would appreciate any information you can find out about it; I’d love to share it with my dad.

Carol from Nashua

Dear Carol,

Your creamer is from a company that has been around in England since the late 1800s. It is part of a larger set of dishes, I assume. I believe yours is from the 1940s, but this company produced wares for so long, with many patterns with different marks, and it’s the marks on the bottom that would help give you a better idea of their age.

If you were to replace this set it would cost a fortune for a new one today, though the secondary market for the antique and older ones is slim, partly because there are so many pieces still around today and this generation has no interest in large sets of dishes. So the value of your creamer is in the $5 range (not damaged). Priceless, though, to have gotten it from your dad!

Donna Welch has spent more than 30 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing, and recently closed the physical location of From Out Of The Woods Antique Center (fromoutofthewoodsantiques.com) but is still doing some buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550 or 624-8668.

Kiddie Pool 21/02/18

Family fun for the weekend

Vacation week fun

Let the kids explore hands-on exhibits that show the science behind motion, light, space exploration, the ocean, human genetics and more at the SEE Science Center in Manchester (200 Bedford St., 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org), which is open daily for the remainder of this week through Feb. 28. Visitors can reserve morning or afternoon sessions in advance, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m. Pre-registration, either via the website or by phone, is required as capacity for each session is limited. Admission is $9 per person ages 3 and up.

While the hours at theChildren’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; children’s-museum.org, 742-2002) are still limited (Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.) and all visitors must pre-register online, the museum’s website is full of fun activities to keep the kids busy during vacation. There’s a Books Alive literacy program that includes videos of book characters who visit during storytime (Pete the Cat makes an appearance!) as well as craft activities related to the books and characters. It’s also Dental Health Month at the museum, and there are videos related to that, as well as hands-on activities for those who visit in person. Admission is $11 for adults and children over 1, $9 for seniors 65+, and free for museum members and children under 1.

Socialize and exercise

Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. the Health Club of Concord (10 Garvins Falls Road, 224-7787) hosts a free Parent and Me Play Date that’s open to the public. Get together with other parents in a safe and fun environment and socialize or just relax while your children play. The next play date is happening Friday, Feb. 19. The club also offers a free kids Zumba class on Thursdays at 10 a.m. when a parent attends the adult Zumba class at 9 a.m. on that day ($15 for non-members; free child care during the adult class). Visit healthclubofconcord.com.

Treasure Hunt 21/02/11

Dear Donna,

Can you give me an idea what this crock might be worth or how I can find out?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Your crock is an unusual size to have made it this far in time. They were used for pickles, lard, etc., so seeing them in good shape is a plus. The 10 on it means it is a 10-gallon. The crown is the mark of Robinson Ransbottom Co. They were located in Roseville, Ohio. You can do further research on your piece by searching that information.

Now for the pricing, remember that condition and age matter. There are still modern made crocks out there with the same markings. So if yours is an antique one and in good condition with no cracks, the value would be in the $120 range. If it’s a modern made one, the value would be less in the secondary market.

This size crock is great for dog food, or maybe for use as an end table — you can probably get a round wood top for it at a hardware store.

Donna Welch has spent more than 30 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing, and recently closed the physical location of From Out Of The Woods Antique Center (fromoutofthewoodsantiques.com) but is still doing some buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550 or 624-8668.

Kiddie Pool 21/02/11

Family fun for the weekend

L.O.V.E. bingo

Have a sweet Valentine’s Day celebration at Chunky’s Cinema Pub. The theater is hosting family-friendly Theater Candy Bingo on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at its Manchester location (707 Huse Road) and its Pelham location (150 Bridge St.), and on Sunday, Feb. 14, at noon at its Nashua location (151 Coliseum Ave.). It’s traditional bingo with a little more heart — each round will feature Valentine’s Day patterns, like a heart shape and Xs and Os, and there will be Valentine’s Day-themed prizes for the winners, along with traditional boxes of theater candy. Purchase a ticket online to reserve a spot; for $4.99 you get a ticket and a box of Chunky’s theater candy. Turn in your candy to the host to get a bingo card and play a few rounds to try to win back that candy and more. Visit chunkys.com.

Skate outside

Local cities and towns have outdoor ice skating rinks that are free and open to residents and non-residents. The rinks may be open on and off, depending on the temperatures, so call or check the city’s or town’s website or social media before you go. Here are a few local rinks to check out:

Bow Town Pond, 3 Bow Center Road, Bow, 223-3920, bow-nh.com.

• Concord has three public rinks: Beaver Meadow Pond, 1 Beaver Meadow Dr.; Rollins Park, 116 Broadway St.; and White Park Pond & Hockey Rink, 1 White St. Call 225-8690 or visit concordnh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn to dusk.

Dorrs Pond, 56 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn to dusk.

Ice Skating Rink at Watson Park, 441 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org. When open, hours are daily from dawn to 9 p.m.

Kimball Lake, 47 Kimball Lake Road, Hopkinton, 746-8263, hopkintonrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Nashua has two public rinks: Jeff Morin Fields at Roby Park, 126 Spit Brook Road (when open, hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for general skating, and from 8 to 10 p.m. for hockey) and Four Corners, behind Holman Stadium, Sargent Avenue (when open, hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. for general skating, and before 11 a.m. and between 4:30 and 6 p.m. for hockey). Call 589-3370 or visit nashuanh.gov.

Treasure Hunt 21/02/04tr

Dear Donna,
I recently acquired this “Emma Doll.” It was said to be a fine reproduction of an antique doll, purchased at an Amish shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 13 years ago. Do you have any info you could share?
Paula

Dear Paula,
Your doll is sweet and life size. Values for reproduction items are not always strong in the antiques market. But if it was done by a specific artist and signed, this would help with a value. It goes with the same rules as if it were an antique. Who did it, when, the quality and detailing, rarity (depending on how many the maker made) and availability of it are all factors in today’s market and in the future. So I think your next step would be to find collectors for these kinds of dolls. They will give you a fair value for it.

Kiddie Pool 21/02/04

Family fun for the weekend

Celebrate Apollo 14

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 14 with the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord, starhop.com)! According to its website, the center is offering several free virtual activities, including a live online community rocket launch on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Bring a straw rocket, baking soda and vinegar rocket, Alka-Seltzer rocket or any other kind of rocket, then count down together and launch them into the sky. Coming up Thursday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. is the Special Star Show – The Apollo 14 Sky workshop via Zoom (free, but registration at starhop.com is required). On Friday, Feb. 5, take the family on the Alan Shepard Driving Tour (the route is available online) and check in via social media. Pinkerton Academy hosts Mr. Aaron’s Space Sing-Along for younger kids on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 9:30 a.m.

Catch the planes

The Festival of Planes at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) has been extended to Sunday, Feb. 7. According to a press release, the walk-through exhibit, which includes aviation-themed toys, models and puzzles, plus vintage aircraft piloted by celebrities like Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse, has been so popular that it will close two weeks later than planned. The toys span the 20th century, from custom-made cast iron planes to today’s mass-produced Hello Kitty airplane toys. In addition, hundreds of collectible model aircrafts are displayed on a new Wall of Planes in the museum’s learning center. This weekend the museum will be open Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 7, from 1 to 7 p.m. The exhibit is included with museum admission of $10 per person; $5 for seniors 65+, veterans/active military and students under 13. Members and children under age 5 get in free.

Kiddie Pool 21/01/28

Family fun for the weekend

Hike by the light of the moon

Beaver Brook (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) has hikes on the schedule this weekend. On Friday, Jan. 29, it’s a Full Moon Hike, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Definitely take the advice to dress in layers; admission costs $15 per person. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Beaver Brook also has kid-focused events during weekdays. See their website for information on multi-week programs, including the Kids Fitness Hiking Club, homeschool programs and events for the pre-K crowd.

More wildlife

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road in Holderness; 968-7194, nhnature.org) has Wild Winter Walks on the schedule for the next few weekends. This weekend, the walks take place Sunday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The walks (recommended for ages 6 and up) offer an outdoor look at the center’s animals during the winter. The cost is $10 per person; register online.

Putting on a virtual show

Kids with theatrical dreams might want to check out the Palace Teen Company’s “Take Over Show,” with the teens performing their “Broadway dream roles,” according to palacetheatre.org, where you can buy a $15 ticket to this virtual show, happening Friday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.

Crafting and bouncing

Cowabunga’s (725 Huse Road in Manchester; mycowabungas.com, 935-9659) is offering a String Art & Bouncing activity on Friday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. The craft is a string-art heart (materials will be provided) and kids will have a chance to bounce while waiting for part of the craft to dry. Tickets cost $15; see the website to reserve a spot.

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