Kiddie Pool 24/05/23

Family fun for whenever

Outdoors is open

Want to celebrate unofficial summer by the water? Here are some state parks offering lake or ocean side fun. Day use fees for most state parks: adults, or those 12 or older, $4 to $5 depending on the park; ages 6 to 11 $2; free for those age 5 and younger and New Hampshire residents 65 or older with a valid NH license. Visit nhstateparks.org.

Pawtuckaway State Park 128 Mountain Road, Nottingham, 895-3031. This park is always open for recreation unless closed or restricted by posting, according to their website.

Odiorne Point 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406. When park is unstaffed during the season, please deposit payment in Iron Ranger (self-serve paystation) or Seacoast Science Center main desk, according to their website. The Seacoast Science Center is currently open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but that is an additional fee that is not included with the State Park admission fee, according to their website.

Hampton Beach 160 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 227-8722. Metered parking 8 a.m. to midnight; Haverhill Street Bathhouse open 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Marine Memorial Bathhouse (A Street) open year-round 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; North Beach Bathhouse (High Street) open year-round, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Seashell Bathhouse (beach side) opens on Saturday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; South Pavilion Bathhouse (F Street) open year-round 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to their website.

Clough State Park 455 Clough Park Road, Weare, 529-7112. This park is always open for recreation unless closed or restricted by posting, according to their website.

Treasure Hunt 24/05/23

Hi, Donna,

Wondering if you could give me some information on this melodeon. I purchased it from a coworker who was moving and didn’t want to bring it with him. He said it had been in his family for quite some time but his children didn’t want it.

I haven’t been able to find much information online, and I would really appreciate any info you could provide.

Thank you so much.

Alan

Dear Alan,

I have actually had one of these before from the same makers in Concord, New Hampshire.

Your Parker and Secomb melodeon was produced right here in New Hampshire during the middle to late 1800s. The values are all over the place for melodeons from different makers. In good clean working order I found some as high as $3,000 and some for several hundred.

The couple I found from the same maker and style were in the $900 range. That would be an approximate value; selling it could bring a different one. Doesn’t seem the interest in them these days is too high.

I hope this was helpful, Alan, and glad to see it has a new home. Thanks for sharing your New Hampshire-made piece with us.

Treasure Hunt 24/05/16

Dear Donna,

Came across this in my dad’s garage. Can’t figure out what it was for or why he would have it. Can you shed any light on it?

Roger

Dear Roger,

I can share what I know about it with you. I have seen many right in the Manchester mills area. They were used in the bricks for architectural supports in the late 1800s. The stars are still visible in some of the old factories still today.

Along with stars there were other shapes and forms. So not only were they architectural, but they were decorative as well.

Your dad’s being attached to a fragment of the original iron bar shows it’s a real one. Could have even been from right here in New Hampshire.

There are many reproductions out there. But the authentic ones usually run in the $80+ range. So nice treasure, Roger. Thanks for sharing.

Kiddie Pool 24/05/16

Family fun for whenever

Kids love trucks

• Liberty House will host a Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, May 18, at 100 William Loeb Drive in Manchester from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to raise funds for veterans struggling with PTSD, housing instability and other concerns, according to the press release. Participants can explore a wide array of vehicles that includes fire trucks, race cars, BearCats, school buses and propane bobtail trucks, and there will be other activities suitable for children, such as face painting, lots of games, and a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Participants also have the opportunity to win a ride to school in a fire truck from the Manchester Fire Department or even a Kawasaki Electrode Motorbike, among other prizes, according to the press release. There will be a Ben & Jerry’s food truck, and Fungo from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will make an appearance at the event, where all proceeds will benefit Liberty House, which provides a substance-free residential program and community pantry, helping veterans regain their independence and build stable futures, according to the same release. Admission is $5 per person or $20 for a family. Children under 2 are free. Registration is on-site. Visit libertyhousenh.org/touch-a-truck.

Kids love a parade

Bedford’s Memorial Day Hometown Parade will travel from the Bedford High School down County Road to Liberty Hill Road at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.

On stage

Stuart Little will be presented by The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts and will run on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 18, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester).The play is based on the book by E.B. White and is described as an endearing classic about a mouse named Stuart Little who is born into an ordinary New York family. The cast plays many human and animal roles in a series of delightful scenes that make up the marvelous maneuverings of a mild-mannered mouse trying to survive in a “real people’s world,” according to the website. Tickets are $10 and $15. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

• For the Tay-Tay fans of all ages, catch Shake It Off! A (Taylor’s Version) Tribute featuring the Swiftie Tribute Band at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 18, at 2 & 730 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and $40.

• Catch the final weekend of the Teen Mainstage production of Godspellat the Peacock Players (Janice B. Street Theatre, 14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org). The musical will be on stage Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $18.

• Learn while you watch the adventures of Ada Twist Scientist and Friends, based on the books and spotlighting STEM curriculum, atStockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com) on Tuesday, May 21, at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $12.

Treasure Hunt 24/05/09

Dear Donna,

I inherited this punch bowl from my grandmother. I have four matching cups with it. Everything is in good shape. Can you give me an evaluation on it?

Thank you, Donna.

Cindy

Dear Cindy,

Thanks for all the photos, Cindy; they really help.

Your Heisey punch bowl is from the early 1900s and is the fluted pattern. Heisey was produced in Ohio and has an interesting history.

Your punch bowl in the fluted pattern most likely had at least a dozen punch cups. You could collect older ones today to complete your set again.

The values used to be at least triple what they are today. Heisey glass was mass-produced along with several others from the same period.

Condition, patterns and rarity all still come into play for pricing. I found values in the range of under $100 for the punch bowl itself. Note: The punch bowl base has a second use when separated from the bowl, as a flower vase. Sweet!

I hope this helped, Cindy, and thanks for sharing.

Kiddie Pool 24/05/09

Family fun for whenever

Keep the comics coming

• The children get a comic convention of their own at Kids Con New England, which will take place Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road in Concord. The event features artists, illustrators and authors; performers such as Sages Entertainment magic and musical guests Clemenzi Crusaders; cosplayers as princesses, superheroes, Star Wars characters and more; game makers and gaming; vendors of comics, collectables and more, and activities such as Jedi training, according to kidsconne.com, where you can see a list of scheduled participants and purchase tickets. Tickets cost $15 per person, $12 for seniors and military and $55 for a family-of-four bundle; under 5 get in for free but all children must be accompanied by an adult, according to the website.

More books

• Nashua Public Library will be hosting children’s author Meg Medina, the Library of Congress’ current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, for a special afternoon of food, books and lively conversation with on Sunday, May 12, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. where a complimentary lunch is provided and kids and teens will receive a free Meg Medina book and a flower they can give to a caregiver, courtesy of the Friends of the Nashua Public Library, according to their website. NPL is one of four public libraries selected this year for Medina’s national tour to introduce her new platform, ¡Cuéntame! Let’s Talk Books!, according to the same website. She’ll also talk about Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away and Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Medina will sign your books and copies of her books will be available for purchase from Balin Books, according to the same website. Visit nashualibrary.libcal.com/event/12307515.

Fun with foxes

• On Monday, May 13, Concord Public Library (45 Green St.) will host Fabulous Foxes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., recommended for families with children of all ages. Registration is required. Participants will explore the curiously cat-like member of the dog family before learning how to mimic a few of their fascinating features. Visit concordnh.gov for more information.

Kids on stage

• The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts Teens will present Les Miserables, School Editionon Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry, majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). The school edition features updated orchestrations based on the Tony-nominated 2014 Broadway revival; this approved edition has been abridged to a running time of just over two hours while maintaining the integrity of this musical masterpiece, according to a press release. Tickets range from $15 to $20.

• The Peacock Players will present Godspell as their spring teen mainstage production at the 14 Court St. theater in Nashua on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. and will run through Sunday, May 19, according to their website. Godspell was the first major musical theater offering from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), and it took the world by storm with an eclectic parade of beloved songs, in which a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing, according to the same website. Admission is free. See peacockplayers.org.

• The Flying Gravity Circus (222 Isaac Frye Hwy. in Wilton, 413-313-1778, flyinggravitycircus.org) presents its Big Show at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford, 672-1002, amatocenter.org) Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 11, at 2 and 7 p.m. The Flying Gravity Circus is a nonprofit youth organization promoting positive development in children and teens through comprehensive circus arts education, according to the website. The Big Show will feature 45 troupers, ages 10 through 18. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for children 3-12 and seniors 65+.

Cheer your team

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue a string of games this week against the Harrisburg Senators. Games start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, (which is Wizards & Wands Night) and Friday, May 10 (which will feature Atlas Fireworks). On Saturday, May 11, gametime is at 4:05 p.m. and the team will play as the Manchester Chicken Tenders. On Sunday, May 12, take mom to a 1:35 p.m. game, where the first 1,000 fans through the gates can get a Fisher Cats sun hat, according to milb.com/new-hampshire, where you can purchase tickets, Manchester Chicken Tenders merch and more.

New Hampshire Roller Derby opens its season Saturday, May 11, with a mixed public scrimmage from 5 to 9 p.m. at JFK Memorial Stadium (303 Beech St. in Manchester, 624-6444). For more information, visit NH Roller Derby’s website, nhrollerderby.com.

Fun with mom

• Celebrate Mother’s Day at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia), where they are offering free admission to moms when accompanied by their children who are 12 years and under on Sunday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., making it the perfect family outing, according to their website. Explore their scenic farm, see firsthand how animal mothers care for their young, enter into a raffle with the possibility of winning a unique birdhouse, and even take rides on a pony, tractor, or a horse-drawn carriage, according to the same website. Moms will also enjoy a 10 percent discount in the gift barn and children under 23 months are free, regardless. Tickets range between $22 and $29 and moms with up to five children are free. Find out more at visitthefarm.com.

• Guess who has meals for kids that Mom doesn’t have to cook? Many area restaurants! Find a listing of spots offering special meals for brunch or dinner on Sunday, May 12, in the May 2 issue of the Hippo. Find the e-edition at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 24.

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