Treasure Hunt 22/11/10

Dear Donna,

Does McCoy pottery still have a collectors’ market? I have this yellow marked McCoy bowl. Just wondering if you could provide any information.

Thanks, Donna.

Bea

Dear Bea,

To answer your question, I say yes, McCoy pottery is still very collectible, depending on the piece, pattern, colors, style and, as always, condition.

Your bowl is a beehive pattern and was part of a nesting set (graduating sizes). There could have been at least four different colors in the set. It was very popular during the 1940s.

McCoy pottery has a very long history beginning in the late 1800s and continuing through the 1990s. Good reading material!

Bea, the value on your bowl, in good condition with no damage, would be in the $50 range to a collector. That’s with no cracks, crazing or chips. So as I said, yes, there is a collectors’ market for McCoy pottery.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Improve your soil now for spring plantings

After you’ve weeded your garden, raked your leaves and cut back some of your perennials (and left some for the insects and birds), you may think you are done. You are not. This is a great time to work on improving your soil.

Soil amendments do not act instantaneously. Changing the pH level, a measure of acidity or alkalinity, takes time. Kits are sold inexpensively (under $10) at garden centers that will tell you what your soil pH is. It’s important to know soil pH along with the needs of specific plants.

Blueberries are a prime example. According to Paul Franklin of Riverview Farms in Plainfield, N.H., soil pH is the determining factor for getting berries. Sunlight? Adequate moisture? Soil texture? Sure, those are all important. But, he told me, if you don’t have the right pH you will get handsome bushes but few berries.

Soil pH numbers are not on a linear scale, but a logarithmic scale. That means that for each number you drop down from neutral (7.0), the acidity is multiplied by 10. And 10 times again for the next number down. So a pH of 5 is about 100 times more acidic than a number near 7. Blueberries, unlike most plants, do best with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Except in rare instances, soils in New England are not that acidic, so you need to work on it if you plan to grow blueberries.

In the fall of 2021 I prepared the soil for six blueberry plants in a sunny, open field. First, the sod was removed in 4-foot-diameter circles 8 feet apart for the bushes. Then some compost was added to the holes. Finally I added agricultural sulfur — bright yellow sulfur purchased at my local feed and grain store. I could have added a sulfur-containing fertilizer such as Holly-Tone or Pro-Holly. Those both also add some organic material for improving the minerals in the soil.

When adding a soil acidifier, follow the directions on the bag. What I used said that each 100 square feet needs 12 pounds of it to drop the pH one point. But if you want to drop it two points, don’t try to do it all in one year; take two years. A pound of the soil acidifier is 2 cups. A 4-foot circle is roughly 12 square feet and needs about 3 cups to drop the pH one point.

We planted blueberries in the spring of 2022, and they produced well and grew well. I will check the pH in the bed again this fall, and will add more sulfur if needed. I will test the soil at the edge of the circle, not right near the root ball. The root ball probably arrived with plenty of sulfur already in it.

Most perennials and vegetables do best with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. If your soil is more acidic than that (with a lower number on the pH scale), you can improve it by adding lime to the soil. Lime is ground up limestone and approved for organic gardeners (as is sulfur). For soils with a pH less than 6.0, you can add 5 pounds of lime per 100 square feet. For mildly acidic soils, 2 pounds per 100 is fine. Never add more than 5 pounds per hundred square feet in a single season. Clay soils require more lime than loamy soils.

It is good to have your soil tested every three years or so. You can Google “soil testing” along with your state. Most states have their own labs for testing through the Extension service, and they provide a standard gardening test for a moderate price that will test for calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, soil pH, organic matter content, and a lead screening analysis. Both conventional and organic fertilizer recommendations are given. In New Hampshire, that is $20. Nitrogen does not show up in soil tests as it changes daily.

The labs offer testing for other things, and I recommend paying extra ($4 in New Hampshire) to learn the percentage of organic matter in the soil. That is important to know. Aim for 8 percent organic matter. If you have less than 4 percent, you need to add compost and work it into your soil. If you have a good level of organic matter, you probably also have good nitrogen levels.

Although in New Hampshire the lab will test to determine the percentage of sand, silt and clay particles in the soil for $30, I do my own test. My way is simple. I take some soil and wet it. Then I rub it between my thumb and forefinger. If it is a clay-dominated soil, it will be sticky. If it is a sandy soil, you will feel the particles of sand. If it is a good loam, it will feel good, with just a few bits of sand and a tiny bit of stickiness. Not scientific, but good enough for me.

Drainage is important, too. You can test soil drainage by digging a hole 24 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Fill it with water, and see how quickly it drains. If your garden is flat and over shallow bedrock, or if you have clay soil, it might take more than a day. If so, plant things that like moist soil. If you have sandy soil, it might drain in an hour or so. If so, plant things that do well in dry soil. Do your test after a week of dry weather.

You can always improve your soil by adding compost and working it in. If starting a new bed, you can work compost in everywhere. In established beds, add compost every time you plant a new perennial. Do not add sand to a clay-based soil; it will turn to concrete when the soil dries out. Add compost.

I’ve been working on my soil for 40 years, and it is dang near perfect. But I still add some compost and organic fertilizer in the hole when I plant a new flower. The results are happy plants.

Featured photo: A simple pH test kit costs under $10 and does fine. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Kiddie Pool 22/11/10

Family fun for the weekend

Family pictures

• The Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) is holding both scheduled and walk-in holiday family photo shoots on Sunday, Nov. 13. A local photographer will take family portraits against a holiday backdrop. Tickets cost $10 and guarantee at least one unedited photo. Edits to a single photo are an additional $5 or an additional $40 for five photos. Reserve a spot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or walk in from 2:20 to 4 p.m. More information can be found at bookerymht.com

Library & museum fun

• Saturday, Nov. 12, is free admission second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) for New Hampshire residents. The museum is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current exhibits include “Gee’s Bend Quilts,” “State of the Art 2020: Locate” and “Memoirs of a Ghost Girlhood: A Black Girl’s Window.”

• The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester) is celebrating Sesame Street’s birthday on Tuesday, Nov. 15, with a party starting at 10 a.m. There will be stories, crafts and games based on some of the television show’s most beloved characters. This event is for children ages 2 to 5 years old and their caretakers. Registration is required and can be done at manchester.lib.nh.us.

• New Hampshire Humanities will be hosting an event called Music in My Pocket: Family Fun in Folk Music presented by Jeff Warner at the Boscawen Public Library (116 N. Main St., Boscawen) on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. Warner will have “pocket instruments” like spoons and will tell tales through songs, passing down the stories with oral storytelling. Visit nhhumanities.org or call the library at 753-8576 for more information.

Showtime

• The University of New Hampshire will have a ballet showcase on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Theatre, Paul Creative Arts Center (30 Academic Way, Durham). The showcase will have students from the university’s dance program performing their original dance choreography that they have worked on throughout the fall semester. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at unh.universitytickets.com.

• Join The Little Mermen at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Nov. 12, featuring a family-friendly Disney sing-along event at 2 p.m., followed by an 18+ show at 8 p.m. The cover band dresses up in costume to perform all the classics and new family favorites. The band’s creator, Alexis Bambini, bills the show as an experience for Disney kids who grew up. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under, or $25 for general admission to the night show.

More than reading

Learn about early childhood literacy at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is encouraging literacy throughout November with a month of events, including a special exhibit in the museum’s art gallery 6.

“Step into a Story: Art by New England Illustrators” will be on display through January at Gallery 6. The studio, located in the walkways between the first and second floors of the museum, is decorated with paintings and illustrations from local picture book illustrators.

[The] illustrators all have a history with the museum,” said Neva Cole, the director of communications at the Children’s Museum. “They’re part of our community and we’re happy to have them participate in the exhibit.”

Cole said that the illustrators have their own unique styles and use different media in their artwork. One of the artists showed more than just art, but showed her entire illustrative process, Cole added. The artist, Vita Lane, included picture book drafts, mock-ups and final illustrations so visitors can see the work the artists put into making stories come to life.

While the museum is for children and caregivers, Cole said that people without children can come and see the artwork as well and that they wouldn’t need to pay for admission.

“It’s a good amount of space to put on a good show,” Cole said about Gallery 6. “You don’t need a child to see the art. Just walk up and down the ramp.”

In addition to the gallery and illustrator visits, kids and caregivers can sign up for some special events. Karel Hayes, one of the artists featured at the gallery, will do a book signing for some of the books that she’s illustrated on Saturday, Nov. 19. The storybook character Llama Llama will make a special appearance in his red pajamas on Saturday, Nov. 12. Families will receive a free picture book upon entry to the museum throughout the month, while supplies last, Cole said.

These events and the exhibit are all part of the theme for November, which is focusing on promoting early childhood literacy. Cole said that many aspects of the museum use storybook time with crafts as a way to do an education strategy called play-based learning.

Childhood literacy is important to the museum because of how much it impacts children’s learning patterns, said Cole.

“The more exposure, the better off kids are in the long run,” Cole said. “This will help with their confidence and ability to pick up new words, and so much more.”

The Children’s Museum isn’t just promoting literacy at its own location. It’s also helping communities across New Hampshire to promote early literacy. The museum received the Inspire grant through the Institute of Library Services to help promote literacy and play-based learning.

With the grant money, the museum is creating early education kits to send to libraries and day care centers across the Granite State. Cole said that they’ve received 83 applications for the kits.

“We’re thrilled to offer these to those child care centers,” said Cole. “Some are more isolated and maybe only serve five or six kids, but those families and kids deserve to learn and experience play-based learning. If we can help facilitate this beyond the museum’s walls, how incredible is that?”

“Step into a Story: Art by New England Illustrators”
Where: Gallery 6, The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St., Dover.
When: Through January
Price: Access to the gallery is free.
Visit: childrens-museum.org

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/11/10

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• At the Factory: The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St. in Manchester; factoryonwillow.com, 263-3696) will hold an opening reception for the Fall 2022 Artist in Residence Showcase with Amira Hason, who creates architectural studies of Oxford, U.K., historic buildings, and Salvador Andrade Arévalo, who works in painting, drawing and installation, on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m, according to the website.

The following Thursday, Nov. 17, New Hampshire Dance Collaborative will present Are You Okay, a performance created by Anthony Bounpakhom of The Block Collaborative in Portsmouth that “sheds light on the subject of mental health and the value of self-care through hip-hop dance/ street styles and dance movement,” according to a press release. The Nov. 17 performance will present four excerpts from the piece, which will premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Factory, the release said. The Nov. 17 show starts with refreshments at 5:30 p.m., with the performance at 6 p.m. followed by discussion, the release said. The event is free to attend but register via nhdancecollaborative.com.

• Curtain calls: This is the final weekend of Bedford Off Broadway’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Old Town Hall (3 Meetinghouse Road) Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 general admission, and $12 for children, students and seniors. Purchase them at the door or at brownpapertickets.com. Matt Ingersoll talked to TreVor Nantel, who plays Spike, in the Oct. 13 issue of the Hippo. Find that interview as well as other interviews of actors in local productions this fall in the story that starts on page 10 of that issue; find the e-edition at hippopress.com.

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-8855) concludes its presentation of Greasewith shows on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m.

• Nutcracker season: Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater presents its annual production of The Nutcracker on Friday, Nov. 18, through Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-8855). Shows are Friday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, at noon and 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $46 for adults, $25 for kids ages 6 to 12 and $30 for seniors and veterans.

Craft fairs

The season continues with more fairs this weekend. Send information about upcoming craft fairs to [email protected].

• The Craftworkers’ Guild in Bedford (5 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, the building at the bottom of the library parking lot; thecraftworkersguild.org) will open a pop-up shop Friday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

• The 8th annual Spirit of Christmas Fair will be held on Friday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish Holy Trinity Church (404 High St. in Somersworth) featuring sales by artisans, a penny sale, raffles, jewelry, a cookie carousel, baked goods, Christmas decorations and more, according to a press release.

• Gethsemane Lutheran Church (65 Sagamore St. in Manchester; glcmanchester.org) will hold a holiday fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring food, crafts, a basket raffle and more, according to a church Facebook post.

• The Pleasant View Retirement Community (270 Pleasant St. in Concord) will hold an indoor craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring baked goods, handmade items and more, according to a Facebook post.

• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (335 Smyth Road in Manchester) will hold a craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with crafts, a cookie walk, a bake sale, a children’s table and more, according to a press release.

• Memorial High School (1 Crusader Way in Manchester) will hold a craft fair Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring 215 booths with crafters and vendors as well as a raffle, and the Whoopie Pie wagon will be on site, according to a post by the event coordinator. Admission costs $2 per person, the post said.

• The United Church of Penacook (21 Merrimack St.) will hold its craft fair Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. See ucpnh.org for a list of crafters.

• Concord Hospital’s Holiday Craft Fair will take place Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Payson Center for Cancer Care and in the first-floor and third-floor rotunda spaces at the hospital (250 Pleasant St. in Concord), according to concordhospital.org.

• Pure Springs Church in Raymond and the Ray-Fre Senior Center (64 Main St. in Raymond) will hold an Old Fashioned Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center featuring crafts and vendors, food, a kids’ corner and more, according to a church newsletter.

• Saint Kathryn Parish (4 Dracut Road in Hudson; stkathryns.org) will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and Penny Sale on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair will include raffles, penny sale, bake sale, crafts, a scavenger hunt and photos with Santa, according to the website.

• The Bedford Girl Scout troops will hold their craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at Bedford Presbyterian Church (4 Church Road in Bedford).

• Caya Reiki & Healing(caya-healing.square.site) will hold a Holiday Psychic & Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Derry-Salem Elks Lodge (39 Shadow Lake Road in Salem) featuring more than 30 vendors and artisans, according to Caya’s Facebook post.

• The Seacoast Artisans Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Pease Trade Port in Portsmouth. Admission costs $5 (kids 14 and under get in for free). See seacoastartisansshows.com.

• A retired potter and juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen is selling their pieces “as well as items gathered throughout years of travel and exploration,” according to an email. The sale will take place Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7 Pinecrest Circle in Bedford.

• Fusion at the Factory is a “market for makers and creatives” and will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a Facebook post for Factory on Willow (252 Willow St. in Manchester; factoryonwillow.com, 263-3696). The event will feature vendors, music, food, beverages and entertainment, the post said.

• The Bedford High School Handmade Fair will take place Sunday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bedford High School (47 Nashua Road), according to the event’s Facebook page. The fair will have more than 60 local artists, food and music, according to the post.

The most wonderful time of the year

Majestic Theatre brings holiday comedy Seasonal Allergies to the stage

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

With the holiday season now upon us, we will soon be surrounded by family, friends, laughter and a little bit of chaos. It is this spirit of the holidays that is captured in Seasonal Allergies, a play put on by the Majestic Theatre in Manchester that will run from Friday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 13. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Written by Katherine DiSavino and Kevin Mead, Seasonal Allergies is a lighthearted comedy.

“While it is humorous, it is very relatable,” Joe Pelonzi, the show’s director, said in an email.

“People will be able to connect with the characters and it will make them remember their family [or] friend holiday stories.”

Despite all the joy and cheer, the holidays aren’t all ribbons and bows, as actor Irene Gerakas points out.

“All families go through a little bit of holiday tension and anxiety and stress,” Gerakas said. “It’s all about the trials and tribulations that can happen over the holidays with family.”

After spending seven years in Los Angeles pursuing a career in acting, Gerakas, who plays the part of Julia Shelby, moved back to New England due to the pandemic. While back in Massachusetts, she was looking for a way to get back into acting, and figured this production was a great way to get back in the swing.

“I was looking to get back into the theater scene out here. I just moved back from L.A. about a year and a half ago, so I was ready to get back into the scene,” Gerakas said. “I love comedy … [and] I thought this is a nice, family-oriented, lighthearted comedy.”

The play centers around Gerakas’s character, Julia, whose little brother, Peter, suddenly shows up at her door, down and out in the midst of a divorce. Having siblings of her own, Gerakas understands firsthand the sibling dynamic between Julia and Peter.

“She loves her brother, but she’s fed up with [him], so I think that’s relatable. Just finding the balance between being a loving, compassionate sister and also being the head of a household and having to put her foot down for certain things … has been interesting,” Gerakas said. “Julia is kind of the glue of the family. She’s feisty, but she’s compassionate and empathetic. … She has little one-liners that are fun.”

The relationship between Julia and Peter is just one of the many aspects of the play that the audience will find themselves connecting with. The humor and relatability are among the reasons that the Majestic Theatre decided to do this show.

“Everything that happens in the play has probably happened to everyone in the audience, or they’ve witnessed it happening or they’ve been the one doing it,” Gerakas said.

The Majestic Theatre presents Seasonal Allergies
When: Friday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 13 — showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday
Where: 880 Page St., Manchester
Cost: Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, as well as for kids and teens ages 17 and under
More info: Visit majestictheatre.net or call the box office at 669-7469 to purchase tickets. They’ll also be available at the door prior to the performances.

Featured photo: Left to right: Seasonal Allergies performers Heather Armhold, Allison Sjolund and Jim Calimeri. Courtesy photo.

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