Tag: 200827

Treasure Hunt 20/08/27

Dear Donna,
This is a piece of wall art, I think. Can you tell me anything about this? I was told it was possibly used to decorate cakes. Is it worth anything?
Janet

Dear Janet,
OK, you got me! I have never seen a piece like this referred to as a cake decorating piece. The wood and carving have a foreign appearance. I would also say yes it’s for a wall hanging by seeing the hook in back.

I think what you have is a decorative wooden plaque. It’s most likely not too old but still a nice-looking piece. Things don’t always have to be of high value to be enjoyed. I do think the value of yours would be under $25.

Kiddie Pool 20/08/27

Children’s Museum to reopen

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) is scheduled to reopen for a members weekend on Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 5. Membership levels include $90 for one adult and one child and $120 for two adults and children under 18 living in the same house. The next week (Sept. 10) the museum will open to the public with two timed-ticket entry sessions, Thursdays through Saturday, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m., according to an email from the museum. Pre-registration will be required for visits and can be done online starting a week in advance, the email said. In October, the museum plans to offer two-hour private rentals to groups of up to 50 people on Sundays, the email said.

At the Discovery Center

After you make those Children’s Museum reservations for next weekend, head to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) this weekend. Summer hours at the center continue through Sunday, Aug. 30: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the website for all the covid-era protocols.

Ready, aim, throw

New axe throwing center opens in Hudson

By Angie Sykeny

[email protected]

The axe throwing trend is growing in New Hampshire, with its newest venue, Axe Play, now open in Hudson.

Axe Play features 16 throwing lanes, housed in a newly built facility. It’s open to both individual players and groups of players aged 18 and up and is BYOB for players of legal age.

Axe Play’s co-owners, husband and wife Matt and Maria Keller, tried axe throwing for the first time with a group of friends at another New Hampshire axe throwing center. After that, they were hooked.

“We all had an absolute blast,” Matt Keller said, “and any time a big group of people can get together and all enjoy the same activity, you know it must be pretty good.”

Keller was retiring and looking for a new venture that would “bring a smile to people’s face.” Knowing of only two axe throwing venues in the state, he and Maria decided to open their own.

If you’re new to axe throwing, here’s the gist: It’s like darts, but with an axe. The player stands in a lane, 12 to 15 feet away from a four-by-four-foot wooden target and tries to hit the bull’s-eye. The short, single-handed axe — more of a hatchet, really — typically has a wooden handle and may vary in weight, from one to two-and-a-half pounds, and in length, with a blade up to four-and-a-half inches and a handle between 16 and 18 inches.

In a standard game each player gets 10 throws and earns points based on where they hit the target. Each ring on the target is worth a different number of points, ranging from one point for the outermost ring to six points for the bull’s-eye. Additionally, there are two small blue dots on the target; if a player announces before their throw that they are aiming for one of the dots and they hit one, they earn eight points.

Axe Play’s trained instructors, or “axeperts,” will help you out if you’re new to the sport or having trouble getting the hang of it.

“We give people as much one-on-one instruction and attention as they need so that they can be able to hit the target and have fun,” Keller said.

Strategy-wise, there is no “right” way to throw an axe. Some people throw with one hand, and some throw with two. Some people take a step forward as they throw, while others keep their feet planted.

“There’s a base to work from, but you can modify it to do what works best for you,” Keller said. “It’s really just about finding your sweet spot.”

Axe throwing is not only a fun pastime, Keller said, but also comes with physical benefits, like building arm and shoulder strength and flexibility, as well as mental benefits.

“There are people who come in who have had a stressful day, and half an hour later they are laughing,” Keller said. “They leave here feeling so much better than when they came in.”

Featured photo: Axe throwing at Axe Play in Hudson. Courtesy photo.

Axe Play
Location: 142 Lowell Road, Unit 19, Hudson
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday from 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. The venue is also available for private parties and corporate events.
Cost: $25 per person. Groups of 10 or more receive a 20-percent discount. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are preferred. Reservations can be made on the website.
Rules: Players must be 18+. BYOB permitted for players 21+. Closed-toe shoes are required.
Leagues: League for individuals will run Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m., from Sept. 14 through Oct. 26. League for teams will run Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., from Sept. 16 through Oct. 28. Entry costs $125 to join, then $25 per week. The deadline to sign up is Sept. 10.
More info: Call 809-9081 or visit axe-play.com.

The Art Roundup 20/08/27

• Depicting sanctuaries: A new art exhibit, “Searching for Solace: Sacred Spaces/Sacred Places,” opens at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) on Saturday, Aug. 29, with an opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. It features paintings, sculpture, textiles and ceramics by 13 artists exploring the concept of personal sanctuary, with a focus on nature. The exhibit runs through Sept. 27. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• Music and a story: New Hampshire native and bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown will release a classical music album and corresponding children’s book called Wild Symphony on Friday, Aug. 28, according to a press release. Wild Symphony pairs short poems and illustrations of animals with classical music tracks through an app, which recognizes the page of the book and automatically plays the matching music. Visit wildsymphony.com.

• Theater indoors and outdoors: The Granite Playwrights present Loose Connections, a series of three one-act plays,at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Suite 1161, Concord) now through Aug. 30, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Last Call,by Douglas Schwarz, follows a man who is struggling with the concept of fatherhood and sets out to make amends with his own long-deceased father. Doll House,by Jane Hunt, explores the question, “As the economy drags our personal fortunes to the brink, can hope, love, and memory keep us from going over?” Optimystyx, by Alan Lindsay, is about a game that exposes the secrets of an old-fashioned publishing house. Tickets cost $18 to $20 for adults and $15 to $17 for students and seniors. Visit hatboxnh.com or call 715-2315.

Or, enjoy some outdoor theater with Seussical Jr., presented by All That Drama and Nottingham Parks & Recreation, outside at the Nottingham town bandstand (139 Stage Road). Performances are on Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30, at 5 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation to see the show. Visit allthatdramanh.com.

• Market Month concludes: Intown Concord’s annual Market Days Festival, reimagined this year as Market Month, comes to a close with a Sidewalk Sale weekend, Thursday, Aug. 27, through Sunday, Aug. 30. Downtown businesses will expand their storefronts outside on the sidewalks, talk with customers and promote special items. Visit facebook.com/intownconcord or call 226-2150.

• Three at the Currier: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) is now open with three new exhibitions. “Richard Haynes: Whispering Quilts” features a series of drawings inspired by traditional quilting patterns that tells the story of an enslaved family’s dangerous journey along the Underground Railroad, from a southern plantation to freedom in Canada; “Photographs from the Civil Rights Movement” features photography from the Civil Rights protests in the 1950s and 1960s; and “Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art” explores how contemporary artists have been influenced by the culture of video games, through paintings, sculpture, textiles, prints, drawings, animation, video games, video game modifications and game-based performances and interventions. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday through Wednesday. Through August, the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. is reserved for seniors and museum members. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and free for children under age 13 and must be purchased in advance online. Visitors must wear face masks. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Call for art: The New Hampshire Art Association is now accepting online submissions of artwork for its 21st annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition, which will be on display at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) from Nov. 4 through Nov. 29, with a virtual opening and award ceremony on Friday, Nov. 6. The juried show is open to both NHAA members and non-members. Works in all media will be considered and should be related to this year’s theme, “Intrinsic Moments.” Artists can submit up to two pieces. The submission deadline is Sept. 14, and the entry fee is $20 to $25 for NHAA members and $40 to $45 for non-members. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Sculpture on the beach: The 20th annual Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic is still on for Thursday, Sept. 3, through Saturday, Sept. 5. Head to Ocean Boulevard to watch as 10 of the world’s top sand sculptors compete for cash prizes and awards. Stick around on Saturday for the judging and to vote for your favorite sculpture from 1 to 3 p.m., and for the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. The sculpture site will be illuminated for night viewing through Sept. 13. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/sand-sculpture-event.

Featured Photos: “Water Lilies” by BJ Eckardt featured in the exhibit “Searching for Solace: Sacred Spaces/Sacred Places” at Twiggs Gallery. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 20/08/27

Victory for the Knights
The Nashua Silver Knights baseball team, part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, concluded its 10th anniversary season with a 5-3 win over Worcester, claiming its league-leading fifth title, according to a press release. Kyle Bouchard, who was named MVP of the series, made the final run in the ninth inning that won the Knights the game. The win also made the Knights the first team in FCBL history to lose the first game in the three-game championship series, then make a comeback to win the final two games.
QOL Score: +1
Comment: The Silver Knights players, coaches and staff members will receive their championship rings at a ceremony in Nashua (date TBD).

Drought worsens
Parts of southern New Hampshire have escalated from a “moderate drought” to a “severe drought,” according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The drought has affected areas in Rockingham and Merrimack counties, more than half of Strafford County and a small portion of Belknap and Hillsborough counties, with 49 percent of the state still experiencing moderate drought, 31 percent experiencing abnormally dry conditions, and groundwater levels across the state steadily decreasing. The U.S. Drought Monitor said below-average precipitation and a lack of snowpack followed by hot and dry conditions are leading factors.
QOL Score: -1
Comment: The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services urges people living in areas that are in moderate or severe drought to practice water conservation, like eliminating water use for watering lawns and washing cars, to help ensure that communities’ basic water supply needs can be met .

Beware of pet scam
There’s a new internet pet sale scam making the rounds, according to a press release from New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald. There have been recent reports throughout the state of scams in which purebred puppies and kittens are advertised for sale at a low price on seemingly legitimate websites.The sellers claim that the animals must be shipped and that buyers cannot pick up the animals in person. When a buyer sends money to purchase an animal, the seller demands more money to cover supposed shipping costs, paperwork and vaccinations, but the buyer never receives the animal.
QOL Score: -1
Comment: To protect yourself from this scam and similar scams, MacDonald advises not buying a pet online (unless it’s from an established rescue group) or from a long-distance seller who has to ship the pet to you; always speaking to a seller on the phone and, if possible, verifying their legitimacy through references; being skeptical of rare or expensive breeds being sold for too-good-to-be-true prices; and never transferring or wiring money to people you don’t know.

Another case of Jamestown Canyon virus
An adult from Dunbarton has tested positive for the Jamestown Canyon virus, becoming the third detection of the virus in the state this year, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Services announced. The arboviral risk level, which measures the risk of infections being transferred from mosquitoes to humans, has been increased to “high” for Dunbarton. The neighboring town of Bow, which was already labeled high risk, will remain so; the risk level in the neighboring town of Weare will increase to moderate; and the surrounding towns of Hooksett, Hopkinton and Goffstown will remain at moderate risk.
QOL Score: -1
Comment: Jamestown Canyon virus and other mosquito-transmitted infections present in New Hampshire can cause severe neurologic illness, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan.

QOL score: 54
Net change: -2
QOL this week: 52
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

Wrath on Rask

Another hectic week during the Covid era in sports inspired the following thoughts and many more.

All I have to say to Bruins fans angered about the Tuukka Rask departure is do you really want a guy in goal whose heart’s not in it? Because if he’s not fully into it, they’re better off without him, as shown by the Bruins’ winning three straight to eliminate Carolina after he bolted the bubble.

Every once in a while comes a reminder that shows how much better professional athletes are than normal people. The latest was PGA rookie Scottie Scheffler shooting a 59 at the Northern Trust event on Friday at the TPC course in Norton, Mass. I played there when my handicap was at its lowest point ever, and that’s an unfathomable number. Then throw in the fact that it was from as far back as the tees go and that it’s in competition. Long and short of it: They’re better than me.

Not that it’s his fault, but it always seems to be something with Gordon Hayward, doesn’t it? The latest is being out until mid-September after badly rolling his ankle early in Round I. And even if they’re still alive when healthy, he’s going home around then to rightfully be with his wife as she delivers baby No. 4.

Speaking of injuries, I have never seen anyone, not even Larry Bird during the 1991 playoffs vs. the Pacers, ever smack their head as hard on the floor as Tobias Harris did vs. the Celtics on Sunday. It was the kind of incident where you envision the worst. But not only did he walk off under his own power, but after getting stitched up he was back in midway through the fourth quarter. That is what you call toughness and having a really hard head.

Incidentally, if it were up to me, I’d move Hayward and Jaylen Brown to the second unit and start Marcus Smart and probably Grant Williams. That would make the second group much more dynamic offensively and give better balance for shots taken by their top four scorers. Because when they all play together one or two have to defer to the other two. Better said, if wing players on the second unit are getting 35 shots a game, who would you rather see get most of them, Hayward and Brown or Williams, Brad Wanamaker and Carsen Edwards? Play it that way for the first three quarters and the fourth quarter based on match-ups and who’s hot, which probably would have them all together then anyway. Bet it would give them a big plus/minus when the bad guys starters aren’t on the floor.

Here’s the latest sign younger demos are losing interest in baseball for newer things. Portsmouth’s Great Bay Community College is advertising to hire an esports team coach. I didn’t even know esports had teams, let alone needed coaches.

Here’s another. Rangers manager Chris Woodward being visibly upset at San Diego’s Fernando Tatis for blasting an eighth-inning grand slam against his team during a 14-4 loss, followed by another idiotic baseball custom when Texas, of course, hit the next guy up. The offense according to Woodward? That it came on a 3-0 count while being up seven runs. Beyond suggesting a neurological work-up, my advice is (1) to see no lead is safe, try watching the Red Sox or Phillies bullpen a little more closely and (2) don’t have your pitchers throw 3-0 meatballs with the bases loaded. Tatis’ job is to hit pitches as far as he can regardless of the score, not worry about Woodward’s fragile ego. I’d say where do they find these boneheads, but baseball is full of them.

Speaking of Sox relief pitching: After trading Brandon Workman to the Phillies they should pull a Brian Cashman. That is, re-sign Workman in December as Cashman did with closer Aroldis Chapman after trading him to the eventual World Champion Cubs in 2016 as a rental.

Recently saw an interesting poll from ESPN’s Mike Greenberg that asked which of Pat Mahomes, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson and Mike Trout would you expect to have the best next 10 years. It came out Mahomes at 51.1 percent, Freak 19.1 percent, Zion a surprising third at 15 percent, and the stat geek nonsense that inflates value in baseball didn’t translate here as Trout was last at 14.8 percent.

Always have thought NFL pre-season games were a drone. But without them it’s hard building anticipation for the coming season.

Best joke from the Tiger Woods–Peyton Manning vs. Phil Mickelson–Tom Brady golf, ah, duel in May that began the comeback of sports vs. coronavirus came from some guy I never heard of saying, “It’s not even football season and Tom Brady is falling apart without Bill Belichick.”

If you missed it, Wenyen Gabriel got the start out of the blue for Portland vs. the Lakers in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series. Not a bad run either, as he had seven points, five rebounds and an assist in 21 minutes before fouling out. Then, in the next game that day one-time D-III’er Duncan Robinson went for 24 as Miami downed Indy when the New Castle (N.H., not Indiana) bomber was 7 for 8 from downtown.

Nice stories, but neither is our New Hampshire Star of the Week. That would be Merrimack Valley middle school student Brayden Harrington for reminding all that the persistence to overcome obstacles can be helped along by encouragement from a friend. He gets a standing ovation for the gumption the 13-year-old showed in Thursday’s inspirational talk to a national TV audience about how his friend Joe Biden is helping him overcome the stuttering problem they share, and his amazement that someone like him could become vice president of the United States. The pair met at a CNN Town Hall meeting in February after candidate Biden invited Brayden backstage to talk about their common experiences.

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