Category: Family Fun

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.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/28

Dear Donna,

I have an assortment of older comics. They are not in the best condition, but I thought you might be able to provide advice as to a value, if any.

Karl

Dear Karl,

I have to start off by saying that comics is a very specific field, and even if I can give you my thoughts on them, you should do more research and or see someone who deals in them.

My experience with comics is that the closer they are to mint condition, the higher the value. Most are in very used condition from reading, so to find mint ones makes the value on some soar.

Collectors look for older ones, limited ones and specific issues. You can’t really group your comics without checking on each one individually. One rare comic can be worth more than $1,000 in mint condition. In poor condition the same one could be worth $50. That’s still a value that could add up with an assortment of them.

Common older comics can still have values from $5 and up, even in used condition. There is a specific scale used to judge the condition of them. This is why I suggest you do further research before assuming you just have a lot of used comics. Even if they are only in the $5 range each, it still adds up!

If you need help in doing research I could refer you to a person who could help you in this field. Drop me an email and I will put you in touch.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/21

Dear Donna,

Might you be able to suggest a good reference document or catalogue for Lionel Antique Trains (1950s)?

Louis

Dear Louis,

I’m sharing your email with readers because it’s a good question.

I think that with access to the internet you can find out any pricing and information you would need. Using several different searches for pricing should help narrow things down.

There are several price guides still available to purchase online and they can be a great source for information and prices. Sometimes, though, they aren’t accurate to the selling market today. So my last suggestion is to have someone who deals in toys, trains, etc. take a look at them for you. They should be up to date on the current selling market for trains and parts.

If you need further assistance please email me and I can provide you with a local referral.

Kiddie Pool 21/01/21

Family fun for the weekend

Planes and iBOTs

Take a hike

Beaver Brook Association is offering a Kids Fitness Hiking Club that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks, starting Tuesday, Jan. 26. The hikes run from 3:45 to 5 p.m. and are open to students in grades 4 through 8. These “vigorous” hikes explore the trails of the Beaver Brook campus at 117 Ridge Road in Hollis. Students will also learn a bit about hiking and survival basics and play some trail games. Masks are required when meeting in a circle but may be removed during the hikes when physical distancing is possible. The cost is $120. Visit beaverbrook.org or call 465-7787.

New Hampshire’s Audubon centers are still closed, but their sanctuary trails are open for families who want to get outside and safely enjoy nature. There are miles of trails at the center in Concord (84 Silk Farm Road, 224-9909) and in Auburn (26 Audubon Way, 668-2045). The trails are open from dawn until dusk. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Or take a family walk throughAmerica’s Stonehenge (105 Haverhill Road, Salem, 893-8300, stonehengeusa.com), a 4,000-year-old stone construction that was built by ancient people as an astronomical calendar to determine solar and lunar events of the year. Take a tour (mostly outdoors) and learn about the site, which was also used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Kids can dig for gemstones with tools used by real archaeologists, and interactive tools are now available, including a free audio tour that parents can download to their smartphones. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entrance at 3 p.m.). Admission rates are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors age 65 and up, $7.50 for kids ages 5 through 12, and free for kids age 4 and under.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/14

Dear Donna,

I have an assortment of these wood block letters in many sizes. I collected them for years and ended up with a large collection. I’m wondering if prices have changed for them and if they are still collected now. Any information would be helpful.

Angie

Dear Angie,

I can relate to how things turn into collections easily! Collecting is a fun thing to do.

The print block letters you have served their purpose first in print shops. Now they are rarely used for that. Instead, they tend to be displayed decoratively.

I’m not sure what you paid when you collected them, but today the value on them runs from $2 to $4 each. Larger ones can net more, so if you have a collection of them it could bring a bit of a value in total. They have stayed in the same value range for a while now.

One thing I have learned over the years is to never let children play with them. They were made in a time when using lead was common. The lead is still present even after washing, so keep these away from children.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo

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