Tag: 220630

Treasure Hunt 22/06/30

Dear Donna,

We have an assortment of these refrigerator leftover saving dishes. I inherited them through my family. We never use them so now we are wondering if there still is a use or collectibility for them.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Carla

Dear Carla,

What you inherited is several pieces of jadeite (opaque green) refrigerator dishes. Great color and collectible too.

Your pieces are from the 1950s and done by the Jeannette Co. This was after they purchased the McKee Co. They produced them until the company closed in the 1970s. Even though there are other colors as well, the green jadeite seems to still today have a high demand for dishware, utility ware, etc.

Carla, the values depend on their being in great condition with no chips or cracks, and complete sets (dish and cover). I think for the amount you have the value would be in the $100 range as long as there is no damage.

Thanks for sharing and I hope you find a new home for your pieces.

Donna

Time to tackle those early summer chores

Weeding the garden is only the beginning

With the advent of summer, it is time to buckle down and get a few jobs done in the garden. In the vegetable garden it’s time to thin out extra plants that are crowding each other. In addition to carrots and beets, others like rutabagas, kohlrabi and parsnips that are started by seed in the ground may need thinning.

Carrot seeds are tiny, so we don’t often plant them one by one. Instead we tend to sprinkle them and, by gum, most of them grow. I maintain that thinning carrots needs to happen by the Fourth of July, so get to work. If they are really close together, you may want to use scissors to cut off the extras at the soil line to avoid pulling up carrots you are trying to save.

I like to be efficient at whatever I do, and that includes keeping a relatively weed-free garden. Many weeds quickly mature, flower, and produce seeds. Your job is to keep them from producing seeds or crowding out your plants.

One way to control weeds is to keep them from getting the sunlight they need to grow. You can do this by mulching. I spread out newspapers over the soil and cover them with straw, hay or leaves. Four to six pages of newspaper keeps out light, inhibiting weeds. Three or four inches of straw will keep the papers in place. Earthworms eat the paper over the summer, and newsprint is done with soy-based inks, so you are not adding heavy metals to your soil (which was the case years ago).

This method works well on walkways and around big plants in the vegetable garden but is more problematic for onions and carrots, which are small and closer together. I use grass clippings or chopped leaves, without the newspaper, around small plants.

Mulching in the flower garden is good, too. It keeps down weeds and holds in moisture. But beware: Too much mulch can keep rain from reaching the roots of your perennials. An inch or two of ground bark helps a lot, but 3 or 4 inches will keep quick showers from getting water to your plants.

Some gardeners use landscape fabric under bark mulch, but I generally do not. I find pernicious weeds eventually send roots through the woven fabric and this makes weeding very difficult. Landscape fabric can also constrict perennials as they expand over time, choking them.

What about plain old black plastic? I don’t use it. Sunshine breaks it down over time and makes a mess. It also keeps air and water from getting to the soil, which must affect soil microorganisms. Additionally, the plastic ends up in the waste stream, which I want to avoid.

This is the time to prune lilacs, forsythia and other spring- and early summer-blooming trees and shrubs. They set their buds for next spring in the summer, so if you wait until fall to prune, you will reduce the number of blossoms. But don’t take a hedge trimmer and just buzz off a foot or two. Make each cut thoughtfully.

I start by deciding the perfect height and shape for the shrub. I recently reduced the height of some lilacs from 12 feet or more to a more manageable 8 feet or so. I cut back each stem to a place where two branches meet. If you cut any branch to a random spot, the branch may not heal well. It heals best where two branches meet. Try to hide your cuts by cutting bigger branches in places where foliage from other branches will obscure your surgery.

You can also cut back tall fall-blooming perennial flowers by a third to delay blooming and create shorter plants. This is best done in mid-May, but it’s not too late. Sometimes I will cut back the outer stems of a big clump and leave the center stems at full length. That gives me a longer bloom time, and the lower stems help support the taller stems.

Be forewarned: Not all perennials will bloom if you cut them back. I wouldn’t do it for peonies or iris, for example, but anything like an aster will respond well. Experiment with just a few plants at first. Better yet, read Tracy DiSabato Aust’s book, The Well Tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques. It has detailed advice for most common garden plants.

a watering timer hooked up to 2 hoses
A timer will allow you to water when away. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

If we have a dry summer, you may need to water. Established perennials should not need added water, but your vegetable garden might. I don’t favor overhead sprinklers because they water everything: plants, walkways and weeds. I prefer a watering wand, which is a device I attach to my hose. It is a 30-inch aluminum wand with a sprinkler head and a valve. I can direct the water exactly where I want it. I like a brand called Dramm because the sprinkler head allows fast, gentle watering.

Watering cans are good, too. They allow you to see just how much water you are applying. This is important for new trees, which need 5 gallons a week or so. A sprinkler might seem like it is delivering a lot of water, but may not be.

A watering timer will deliver water while you are away on vacation. They attach to your spigot and allow you to use an overhead sprinkler or a soaker hose. So don’t let your garden dictate your vacation schedule. With mulch and a watering system you can come back from vacation with nothing worse than a lawn that needs cutting!

Featured photo: The first step of mulching as I do it is to put down newspaper. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Fishing for smallies

Smallmouth bass provide an angling experience like no other

“Make him go where he doesn’t want to go,” fishing guide Mark Beauchesne said as I tried to reel in what could only be described as an aggressive fish on the Merrimack River in Concord a few years ago.

The fish in question, a smallmouth bass, dove under the boat and then suddenly sprinted toward the surface, leaping from the water, shaking its head from side to side feverishly. Then it was diving again in relentless, explosive bursts. It felt like it took all I had to keep hold of the rod, never mind figuring out how to make the fish go anywhere.

But as I reeled it closer to the boat, Beauchesne calmly and expertly slid a net into the water, securing the fish and ensuring this would not be a story of the one that got away.

While I was certainly pleased with the size of the fish — probably four pounds or so, Beauchesne guessed — it was more the sheer ferocity and energy the fish exhibited when hooked that I’ll never forget.

“Inch for inch, pound for pound, the gamest fish that swims,” wrote Dr. James Henshall in his 1881 book, The Book of the Black Bass.

“They just don’t have any quit,” said Beauchesne, who, in addition to being a fishing guide, is advertising and promotions coordinator at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “They spend a lot of time airborne. They’re just a very exciting fish to catch.”

The smallmouth bass, also referred to as black bass or a “smallie,” is the most popular game fish in New Hampshire, recently surpassing trout, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which surveys its license holders, Beauchesne said.

“The accessibility that we have to them and with the tackle that’s available here now that’s accessible and easy to use, it just makes it easy for anybody to get into bass fishing,” Beauchesne said.

New Hampshire historian Jack Noon, who wrote the book The Bassing of New Hampshire, noted smallmouth bass were introduced in New Hampshire in 1864 in Rust Pond in Wolfeboro, which is right next to Lake Winnipesaukee. New Hampshire fisheries commissioners began stocking smallmouth four years later, ultimately introducing smallmouths to 140 lakes and ponds in New Hampshire, Noon said.

“The immediate reaction was incredibly positive,” said Noon, who also noted smallmouths had a less than positive impact on native trout populations upon introduction. “Smallmouths were very popular in New Hampshire, as they were a species that could be caught in summer when tourists were present and had leisure time. They were just very important for the tourist season.”

They still are, anglers agree, and the species can be targeted with a variety of tactics.

Stick baits, which are torpedo-shaped lures that mimic small fish, are popular lures for targeting smallmouth, as are soft plastic lures that take a variety of forms, including worms and crayfish. (I caught my smallmouth with Beauchesne right up against a cement piling with a plastic worm the fish hit as it dropped to the bottom.)

While live bait is effective for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, using live bait to target largemouth or smallmouth bass is prohibited from May 15 through June 15. Anglers must use artificial lures during that time period.

“They eat a variety of foods,” Beauchesne said. “Crayfish are common, the young of the year, yellow perch, sunfish, insects are often overlooked. People catch them with frogs coming out of their mouths. They take advantage of available food sources.”

Smallmouth bass thrive in rivers, lakes and ponds, though they prefer hard-bottomed areas, whereas the abundant largemouth bass tends to prefer softer, muddier bottoms, Beauchesne said.

An average smallmouth bass comes in at about 1.5 pounds and 15 to 16 inches. The state record is 7 pounds, 14.5 ounces. That whopper was caught on Goose Pond in Canaan in 1970.

Smallmouth bass are a warmwater fish and tend to be most active when the water temperature is between 55 and 75 degrees. Beauchesne notes rivers tend to stay in that range throughout the summer.

Beauchesne suggested using a 6-foot spinning rod with medium or medium-light action with eight-pound monofilament line.

Noon recalled fishing for smallmouth as an early teenager.

“I was fishing at night with a jitterbug, [which is a type of hard plastic topwater lure that chugs along right on the surface],” Noon said. “You just get a huge kick out of casting it out. It makes this glug, glug, glug sound and then all of a sudden [when the smallmouth hits the lure] it sounds like someone just threw a 20-pound rock into the lake.”

Be Prepared
As soon as you make that first cast, you need to be prepared and ready to handle fish, said Mark Beauchesne, advertising and promotions coordinator at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Beauchesne shared some advice:
Have needlenose pliers handy for removing hooks; don’t be digging them out of a tackle box once you’ve landed the fish.
Handle fish as little as possible; don’t let them flop around on the ground.
If the fish is deeply hooked, it’s better to cut off the line at the hook. It has a better chance of surviving with the hook in its mouth than if anglers cause more damage trying to remove it. “Smallmouth bass are set up to eat fish that have spines, like crayfish and other fish, after all,” Beauchesne said.

Featured photo: Mark Beauchesne with his catch. Photo by Mark Beauchesne.

Fireworks, festivals, parades and naturalization ceremonies

Events happening in New Hampshire on and around the Fourth of July

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Independence Day is a time for cookouts, fireworks, parades and parties, as people say happy birthday to America.

One museum, Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, has been taking it a step further for the past 20 years by holding a naturalization ceremony in conjunction with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the United States District Court – District of New Hampshire.

“I’m so very much looking forward to it,” said Veronica Lester, the spokesperson for the museum. “The joy that radiates from the new citizens will be something quite special to witness.”

Strawbery Banke was settled by British colonists in 1623; they named the area for either wild strawberries that grew along Piscataqua River or an estate in England. Sometime later, it was given the name Puddle Dock and went from wilderness outpost to newcomer neighborhood. People lived in the area until the 1950s, when Portsmouth officials closed the neighborhood for urban renewal.

The new citizens will take their Oath of Allegiance on the museum’s lawn, Puddle Dock, named after the disbanded neighborhood. Lester said that the land Strawbery Banke is on has always been a place for immigrants, whether the first British settlers, or immigrants from across the world in the 19th century.

“It seems fitting that the naturalization ceremony occurs at the museum that is this neighborhood of newcomers,” Lester said. “It’s a special ceremony that takes place at this special location.”

In addition to the celebration at Strawbery Banke, here are some other celebrations happening in the Granite State.

Amherst Fourth of July Celebration

Two days’ worth of celebration and entertainment, featuring fireworks, a festival on the town green, and a parade with classic cars competing for awards.

When: Sunday, July 3, festivities begin at 6 p.m. with fireworks. A second day of festivities, including the parade and festival, begins Monday, July 4, at 9:45 a.m.

Where: July 3 events at Souhegan High School, 412 Boston Post Road. July 4 parade leaves opposite the Wilkins School, 80 Boston Post Road.

Visit: amherstnh4th.org

Brookline parade and fireworks

When: Monday, July 4, 10 a.m., parade will step off. The fireworks will begin shortly after dusk, around 9 p.m.

Where: South Main Street, traveling down Route 130 to Richard Maghakian Memorial School, 22 Milford St. The fireworks will be over Lake Potanipo, Max Cohen Memorial Grove, 3 Mason Road.

Visit: brooklinenh.us

Canobie Lake Park fireworks

Stick around after a day at the amusement park for fireworks over the lake. The fireworks show is timed to patriotic music and the amusement park recommends viewers to watch them by the daVinci’s Dream ride.

When: Saturday, July 2, through Monday, July 4, 9:15 p.m.

Where: Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem

Visit: canobie.com

Concord Fourth of July Celebration

Featuring food, live music, fireworks and more

When: Monday, July 4, food vendors and live music begin at 5 p.m., fireworks at 9:20 p.m. (rain date is Tuesday, July 5).

Where: Memorial Field, 70 S. Fruit St.

Visit: concordnh.gov

Derry fireworks

When: Monday, July 4, dusk.

Where: Best viewing areas are Hood Commons, Crystal Avenue and Tsienneto Road

Visit: derry-nh.org

Exeter Independence Day Celebration

The American Independence Museum is hosting its 32nd annual American Independence Festival later than the holiday. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the museum and meet with vendors, learn about cooking during the Revolutionary War, and watch military reenactments.

When: Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 1 Governor’s Way

Cost: $10 for adults, $5 children 4 to 18, free for children under 4, veterans and active military, and museum members.

Visit: independencemuseum.org

Hampton Beach fireworks

When: Monday, July 4, 9:30 p.m.

Where: On the beach, across from B and C streets

Visit: hamptonbeach.org

Hopkinton Fourth of July Family Fun Day

Featuring a kiddie and main parade, family games, live music and a cookie bake-off

When: Monday, July 4, cookie competition drop off is from 9 to 11 a.m., kiddie parade begins at 11:30 a.m., main parade begins at noon and competition results are at 2 p.m.

Where: Parades begin at Hopkinton High School (297 Park Ave., Contoocook), then proceed through Fountain Square toward Contoocook Village Cemetery. Other festivities held at Houston Park, 41 Houston Drive, Hopkinton.

Visit: hopkintonrec.com

Laconia Celebration and Fireworks

Not only will Laconia be holding a parade and a festival full of vendors and live music, but there will be two different fireworks shows. The first will be at Opechee Park following the festival, and the second will be at Weirs Beach at midnight.

When: Sunday, July 3. The parade will start at 4:30 p.m., the band will start playing at 5:30 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. A second round of fireworks will start at midnight.

Where: The parade will start at the Laconia High School, 345 Union Ave., and end at Opechee Park, 915 Main St. The second round of fireworks will be atWeirs Beach.

Visit: laconianh.gov

Manchester Independence Day Celebration

Enjoy fireworks, live music, and food vendors.

When: Sunday, July 3. Live music starts at 7 p.m.; fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

Where: Arms Park, 10 Arms St.

Visit: manchesternh.gov

Merrimack Fourth of July festivities

A weekend-long celebration featuring fireworks, live music, a road race, a pancake breakfast and much more.

When: The Merrimack Concert Association’s annual Patriotic Concert in the Park will be held Sunday, July 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The 25th annual Merrimack Sparkler 5K Road Race will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 4. The Merrimack Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. A parade will begin at 1 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

Where: Holiday concert at Abbie Griffin Park. Road race begins and ends at the Merrimack YMCA, 6 Henry Clay Drive. Pancake breakfast and fireworks at Merrimack High School, 38 McElwain St. The parade will start at the Commons Shopping Plaza, 515 Daniel Webster Hwy.

Visit: merrimackparksandrec.org

Milford Family Fun Day and fireworks

The holiday kicks off with a 5K, followed by a bike parade, family fun, live music and fireworks.

When: Saturday, July 2, family activities start at 1:30 p.m., concert is from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Where: Keyes Memorial Park, Elm Street

Visit: milford.nh.gov

Nashua Fourth of July Celebration

Fireworks, live music, and hall of fame inductions.

When: Monday, July 4, children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., concert at 6 p.m. featuring The Slakas. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Where: Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St.

Visit: nashuanh.gov

New Boston Fourth of July Celebration

Featuring a parade, live music, a barbecue, ax throwing and the firing of the historic Molly Stark cannon.

When: Monday, July 4, parade begins at 10 a.m., fairgrounds will open at 4 p.m., opening ceremonies are at 5 p.m., and the fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.

Where: Parade begins at the top of High Street and will end at the grounds of the Hillsborough County Youth Center Foundation, off River Road.

Visit: newboston4thofjuly.org

New London Fireworks

When: Saturday, July 1. Flares are at 9 p.m., fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.

Where: Pleasant Lake

Visit: plpa.net

Portsmouth fireworks

When: Sunday, July 3, 9:15 p.m. (rain date is Tuesday, July 5)

Where: South Mill Pond, Junkins Ave. (across from Portsmouth City Hall)

Visit: portsmouthnh.com

Raymond Fourth of July Celebration

20th annual Fourth of July parade will have floats, horses, antique cars, clowns and more

When: Monday, July 4, parade at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Parade proceeds from Route 27 (Epping Street) down to the Raymond Town Common, onto Old Manchester Road and to Wight Street.

Visit: raymondareanews.com

Rye July 4th Celebration

When: Friday, July 1, live music will start at 7 p.m., fireworks will start at dusk.

Where: Parsons Field

Visit: town.rye.nh.us

Salem Independence Day Celebration

Featuring live music, food trucks, face painting, fireworks, a beer garden and more.

When: Saturday, July 2. Yappy Hour starts at noon, live music and face painting will be from 4 to 8 p.m., food and the beer garden will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and fireworks will start at dusk.

Where: The event this year is taking place at Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana.

Visit: townofsalemnh.org

Silver Lake Fireworks

When: Sunday, July 3, at dusk.

Where: Silver Lake, Hollis.

Visit: facebook.com/SilverLakeFireworks

Strawbery Banke Naturalization Ceremony

Come and celebrate Independence Day by welcoming new citizens in one of the oldest neighborhoods in New England.

When: Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.

Where: Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth.

Visit: strawberybanke.org

Suncook River Family Resort Live Music and Fireworks

Live music featuring Nicole Knox Murphy and Mystical Magic will accompany a celebration with games, kayaking, a bonfire and fireworks.

When: Sunday, July 3. Music starts at 3 p.m.; fireworks start at 9 p.m.

Where: 2 Fanny Drive, Suncook

Cost: $8 for people ages 12 and older.

Visit: campsuncookriver.com

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of the Strawbery Banke Museum.

The Art Roundup 22/06/30

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

• Book Signing: Local author and second-grade teacher, Kari Allen will be at Gibson’s Bookstore for a signing of her newly published picture book, The Boy Who Loved Maps, on Wednesday, July 13, from 4:30 to 6 p.m at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 South Main Street, Concord). This is Allen’s first published picture book, it features illustrations by G. Brian Karas, a vetted and award winning artist. Books can be purchased at the event or pre-ordered online. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com.

Summer Exhibit and Sale
New Hampshire Art Association photographer Gary Samson will display his work in an exhibit titled “Unburdened Beauty: Portraits of Women in the 21st Century” at Creative Framing Solutions (410 Chestnut St., Manchester) from Friday, July 1, through Sunday, July 31. Samson takes a unique approach in his photography, shooting on film and opting to use a large wooden view camera mounted on a tripod, in an attempt to slow the process and allow room for thought and conversation to be captured in the final image, according to a press release sent by the Association. Samson is a New Hampshire native and “the seventh Artist Laureate of New Hampshire and has been awarded numerous grants, fellowships and honors for his photography and film work over the past five decades,” the release said. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, July 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will be open to view Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• Famed comedian: Craig Ferguson, best known from the decade-spanning TV show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS, will be coming to the Colonial Theatre (609 Main St, Laconia) as a part of his The Fancy Rascal tour on Saturday, Sept 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39 and are on sale now — they can be reserved online or by phone — but are expected to sell out quickly. Ferguson, born in Scotland, has had an immensely successful career in the American entertainment industry. His resume features roles on several notable shows, including The Drew Carey Show, in addition to film writing, directing and acting, and voice acting in the animated films Brave and How to Train Your Dragon. He’s also a New York Times bestselling author. Visit coloniallaconia.com or call the box office at 800-657-8774.

• Spray paint art: Expressit Art Studio (140 Melendy Road, Hudson; 438-7885) will offer adults and youth age 8 and up the opportunity to come into the studio and try their hand at experimenting with mixed media: spray paint, paint and canvas on Thursday, July 7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event will be held both inside and outside the studio, as participants will get to experience full creative reign over their piece. One canvas is included in the price of the ticket, but participants may bring in an additional 9-by-12 or larger canvas if they wish to make more than one piece. The studio requests that participants bring a mask to protect from the fumes of the spray paint; the studio will supply goggles. Tickets to participate cost $35. Visit expressitarts.com.

Concerts on the Common
Londonderry Arts Council will host musician Veronica Lewis on Wednesday, July 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Londonderry Town Common (265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry) as part of their Concerts on the Common program. According to American Songwriter Magazine, “Veronica Lewis is one of the most promising torchbearers of American rock ‘n’ roll,” as an artist she mixes the technique of different genres to create a unique sound. Her lyrics are both “thought provoking and humorous.” Lewis is a New Hampshire native, according to a press release sent by Concerts on the Common, “Veronica fuses these crucial elements together with the true language of the blues, and the energy of the early rock and rollers, like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, to create a truly individual style that is completely Veronica Lewis.” Lewis has traveled nationally, performing for different audiences. Admission to the concert is free. Visit londonderryartscouncil.org.

ART

Exhibits

• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• ROBIN CORNWELL The New Hampshire Boat Museum will host a member reception on Friday, July 1 for local artist Robin Cornwell, whose work will be featured in the museum’s gallery (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) in July. Cornwell produces art quilts as well as bark paper paintings and woven placemats and rugs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Cornwell, visit robincornwellembellishments.com.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com for more information.

• SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW Two Villages Art Society presents a mixed media art show at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from July 1 through July 30.Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Fairs and markets

• HAMPTON FALLS LIBERTY CRAFT FESTIVAL More than 75 juried artisans from all over New England will feature their work. Hampton Falls town common (4 Lincoln Ave.). Sat., July 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., July 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• GUNSTOCK FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND CRAFT FAIR There will be more than 90 artisans displaying and selling their work. Gunstock Mountain Resort (719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford). Sat., July 2, and Sun., July 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit joycescraftshows.com.

• CRAFT FAIR AT THE BAY More than 75 juried artisans from all over New England will feature their work. Sat., July 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community House and Waterfront (24 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay). Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html for more information.

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR The annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Sat., Aug. 6, through Sun., Aug. 14. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org for more information.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.

Workshops and classes

• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org or email arthousejb@gmail.comfor more information.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

•​ ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) presents the musical through July 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52.

• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org , 436-2848) presents this outdoor musical through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150.

•​ THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith; winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) presents this show Wednesday, June 29, through July 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Thurs., June 30, and Tues., July 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39.

• INTO THE WOODS RGC Theatre presents this musical at Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) July 8 through July 17, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members.

•THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members.

• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

•​ LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4: Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.

• CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ’90s MUSICAL presented by the Actorsingers at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

CLASSICAL

Events

• LISTEN AND LUNCH presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival, David William Ross (guitar) performs at Depot Park in Peterborough, 12 Depot St, Thursday, July 7, from noon to 1 p.m., concert is free and open to the public. Visit monadnockmusic.org.

• TOWN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival features a program of Weber and Schubert at Peterborough Town House, 1 Grove St, on Sunday, July 17, 3 p.m. Tickets: $35, Seniors- $25 Students and Under 18- $10. See monadnockmusic.org.

Piano to lift spirits

Sergei Novikov comes to New Hampshire

By Delaney Beaudoin

Having been in the United States for only four months, pianist Sergei Novikov found himself down on his luck and nearly homeless in 1991. Just three months later he would be playing piano for the president of the United States.

Born in Russia, Novikov displayed an affinity for music from an early age. Learning various instruments from the age of 6, he took up piano by age 8. After graduating from the Moscow School of Music at 15, he briefly played in a pop band, performing for stadiums of up to 100,000 people, before eventually emigrating from Russia to the United States. Novikov only briefly struggled to grasp his footing before he was hired to play piano at a restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine. It was there that he played for former President George H.W. Bush.

“Kennebunkport is where Bush’s family has their summer home. … Bush was president at that time, so he was in town, and that’s where he went, and he came to have dinner,” Novikov said. “He was so impressed with my piano performance that he took the time and actually came to me and shook my hand and told me that I’m a great talent. He was very impressed. Everybody was very impressed that he was impressed with me.”

After finishing his studies at the University of Maine, Novikov began his career doing piano concerts, which he continues to do to this day. As part of his current show, “Piano Concert Like No Other,” Novikov is set to perform Friday, July 15, at 7 p.m. at the Kingswood Art Center in Wolfeboro, on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center in Salem.

Lasting an hour and 15 minutes, Novikov’s performance is specifically designed to cover an array of music genres, incorporating more than 14 different styles.

“Every piece is different. … Every piece has a unique style, although you can describe it in one word: the whole program is sophisticated. So for people who love Chopin, for people who love Duke Ellington, for people who love even Johann Sebastian Bach, you know, they come to my concerts, and they’re not disappointed,” Novikov said. “On the one hand, it’s entertaining. On the other hand, it is deep enough for people to enjoy it and feel that it’s not just something that came and they forgot about it right away.”

In his 20-year career thus far, Novikov has performed live more than 5,000 times and sold more than one million albums. He has performed in front of countless celebrities and been praised by not one but two U.S. presidents. His dedication to his craft is fueled simply by his desire to make people happy through music.

“Everybody has their troubles, problems, everybody has their thoughts, you know, everybody has something on their mind. The music that I deliver takes the load off the brain, at least for the hour and 15 minutes of my performance, and they feel better, and they tell me about it afterwards,” Novikov said. “I always tell people that it’s a privilege, and I feel that I am privileged to be able to do that. I’m not performing magic and taking people’s problems away. But I make them feel better for a little while, [and] that’s already a great deal.”

In addition to making people happy, Novikov hopes to introduce people to the sector of music that has yet to be touched by commercialization.

“There is plenty of good music of any genre, whatever you like, so my message to people is to stop complaining about music being bad. Just you know, get busy finding good music, because it’s out there,” Novikov said. “I am proud to be in that group. I’m offering something that you don’t find every day anymore. It’s really a unique experience.”

Tickets to Novikov’s Wolfeboro and Salem performances start at $40. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the International Rescue Committee “to help assist Ukraine.” Visit speakingmusic.com.

“Piano Concert Like No Other”
• Where: Kingswood Art Center, 21 McManus Road, Wolfeboro
When: Friday, July 15, at 7 p.m.
Cost: $40 to $45
• Where: Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem
When: Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m.
Cost: $40 to $45
Visit: speakingmusic.com

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Sergei Novikov.

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