Alton Old Home Day: a Lakes Region Tradition

This weekend, the Town of Alton, NH will be celebrating its roots, and the entire community is coming together with a variety of events that the whole family will enjoy.  With a vintage boat show, a craft fair, a parade, and a free concert at the bandstand, the weekend promises to conjure summer celebrations of yesteryear.

On Saturday, August 13^th, Alton Old Home Day will begin with a 5K Road Race at 9am.  This run is on a USATF Certified Course featuring computerized timing, traffic control, and prizes to runners in various categories, not to mention one of the most scenic runs in New Hampshire!

If you missed the 38^th Annual Lake Winnipesaukee Antique & Classic Boat Show at Meredith Town Docks a couple weeks ago, you have another chance to see some beautiful boats this Saturday at the Vintage Boat Show, organized by The New Hampshire Boat Museum as part of the Old Home Day festivities.  Several classic boats will be docked and on display from 9am – 12pm.  Come and vote for your favorite in the 2011 People’s Choice Award!

The Alton Old Home Day Craft Fair will be held from 9 am – 5pm at the Alton Bay Community Center and Railroad Square Park.  Admission is free, and visitors can find a vast selection of handmade New England items, including fine wood crafts, candles, fleece, stoneware pottery, Native American jewelry, fabric art, quilts, doll furniture, scroll saw fretwork, and handmade soaps.  The craft fair continues through Sunday, as well.

New this year is a public trail opening on Saturday at noon.  The John Racine Recreational Trail is the newest addition to the public trail system linking Alton Bay to the Alton Traffic Circle.  This new trail is located off of Depot Street and is a scenic, wide trail that is great for bikes, strollers, walking and running.  Alton is a pedestrian- friendly town that encourages folks to “leave the car behind and get outside, enjoy nature and exercise for better health.”

“Remembering the Past” is the theme of the Alton Business Association’s Old Home Day Parade, which takes place at 2:30pm and winds through the center of Alton, ending in Alton Bay.  This is a “good old fashioned parade” featuring individuals and businesses from the local community with floats and walking exhibits.  There’s a good chance of seeing some classic and antique cars, too…

The day wouldn’t be complete without music, and The Echo Tones will be at the bandstand with some fun party music—their own mix of oldies, classic rock, country, and blues.  Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy this special summertime treat by Lake Winnipesaukee!

If you are visiting the Lakes Region this weekend, you might want to swing by Alton Bay on Saturday… a day like this is the epitome of summer in New England!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Town of Holderness Celebrating 250 Years!

Mattatuck Drum Band

In celebrating the 250^th anniversary of its founding, nearby Holderness is looking back to its European roots and to those who were here long before the white settlers decided to call this Lakes Region outpost their home.  The celebration will begin this weekend, with lots of activities taking place all over the area!

The festivities kick off on Friday, August 5^th with a free concert at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, where Steve Schuch will perform “Songs and Tales of the Earth” in the beautiful Kirkwood Gardens from 1 – 2pm.  The Holderness Historical Society at Curry Place will also be open from 1 – 6pm, followed by a Street Dance at 7:00 at the Little Church Theater. Come dance the night away with Postage Due on the shores of Squam Lake!  Food options will be available at the dance starting at 6pm.

On Saturday, August 6^th from 9am – 6pm, Curry Place will be bustling with Abenaki artist demonstrations and sales, including Barry Higgins of White Crow Flutes, Bill and Sherry Gould from Western Abenaki Baskets, Darryl Peasley with beaded top hats and leather pouches, and Debbie Dostie of Silver Wolf Creations, as well as many other crafters and food vendors.  There will be a variety of parades to choose from, such as the 9:30am Mattatuck Fife and Drum Band parade by boat from Cotton Cove to Squam Boat Livery, the 10:00am Grand Street Parade on Route 3 from Shepard Hill Rd to the Squam Lake Science Center, and the 10:45am Vintage Boat Flotilla from Cotton Cove to Perkins Cabins on Little Squam.  The Science Center, Library, and Historical Society will also be holding special demonstrations and lectures throughout the day on the history of the area before the European settlers arrived.  The day will be capped off by another dance—a Barn Dance at 7:30pm in the Fisher Family Activity Barn!

The Sunday celebrations will start at 7:30am with a Pancake Breakfast at the Holderness Fire Station, while Abenaki artist demonstrations continue at Curry Place beginning at 9am, where visitors can also enjoy a Native American flute performance by White Crow at 11am.  John Brooks, a Huron descendant, will conduct a trail walk for “Feast at Your Feet” and “The Thee Sister Survival Vegetables” starting at the Historical Society at 2pm, and at 3:30 there will be a reading of the Town Charter at Livermore Common Holderness School.  The evening will finish with a 4pm Vespers service at Trinity Cemetery Chapel, followed by a reading of King George’s charter creating New Holderness and a tour of the Cemetery pointing out prominent Holderness families of the past.

There are so many other activities happening this weekend and throughout the next week that we can’t list them all here.  You’ve got to see for yourself, and what a beautiful weekend it is to visit this lakeside community and take a trip back in time!  Come celebrate the Semiquincentennial of Holderness!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Family Day at Wright Museum in Wolfeboro

Looking for a fun and unique way to spend a Sunday in July?  One of New Hampshire’s most innovative history museums will be hosting a special day of activities, food, and gallery tours, and folks of all ages will enjoy the diverse happenings this event has to offer.

On Sunday, July 10^th, the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro, NH will hold its 14^th Annual Family Day from 11am – 3pm.  The World War II museum will become home to uniformed re-enactments, special demonstrations, face painting and other children’s activities, and a barbeque lunch.  However, the highlight of the day will be the rare opportunity for guests to ride in one of the museum’s vintage WWII vehicles around downtown Wolfeboro, which only happens twice a year.  Visitors will also have a chance to meet “Rosie the Riveter” while learning about the contributions of women and others on the home front.

According to the organization’s website, The Wright Museum’s mission is to “preserve and share the stories of America’s Greatest Generation for the benefit of generations to come. To fulfill this mission, the Wright Museum collects, cares for, and exhibits artifacts illustrating the heroic efforts of ordinary people living during extraordinary times.”  The founder of the museum, David Wright, believes that it is “imperative to tell the whole story of Americans’ contribution to the war effort.”

The Wright Museum consists of a Home Front gallery and theater, a two-story Visitor’s Center, and the museum’s military wing.  A Time Tunnel links the Home Front gallery to the military exhibits, with special displays of artifacts from the years 1939 – 1945.  The museum’s military exhibition boasts a large collection of fully operational vintage military vehicles, including a 42-ton Pershing tank.  Twice a year, including Family Day, this collection is available for rides for the general public.  This Sunday visitors will also have the opportunity to view WWII era memorabilia from private collections, along with other special activities.

Take the whole family to Wolfeboro this Sunday, and create new memories from the pages of history as they come to life at The Wright Museum!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image courtesy of The Wright Museum of WWII History

Meredith Celebrates Summer with Arts Alive!

Although the spring season was a little slow-blooming this year, summer is just around the corner, and the Lakes Region will soon be bustling with vacationers and families enjoying all that New Hampshire has to offer.  Meredith Village is getting in on the action a little early, with an event that gives visitors and locals alike a preview of some of the exciting activities that are available nearby—Arts Alive!

On Saturday, June 4^th from 1 – 3 p.m., The Mill Falls Marketplace will host Arts Alive!  This mini festival will feature performances and presentations by local arts, nature, and entertainment specialists, including The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and Mr. Phil the magician.

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse is planning to offer drop-in drama classes for kids and quick theater games to give children and their parents a taste of what the Playhouse offers for families.  The performers will also give a brief presentation of select songs from their Fall 2010 musical, Really Rosie, as well as excerpts from the Shel Silverstein April Vacation Camp.  Kate Wisnioski, Education Director at the Playhouse, will be on hand to answer questions about classes, workshops, youth theatre productions, and summer camp.  She will also have information about their upcoming Pirates and Princesses of Winnipesaukee event, as well as the Playhouse’s professional summer season and summer theatre camp.

Beth Moore, one of the educators at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, will have some small animals that people can see up close, including bats, minks, and turtles.  She will also have props, such as pelts and bones, to help people learn about and better understand animals.  According to their website, the mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (SLNSC) is “to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.”  The Center’s presentations are a fun way to connect with nature and learn a little along the way!

For a little magic, don’t miss Mr. Phil.  This popular NH magician will be at the Marketplace dazzling folks of all ages with his tricks and stories.  Mr. Phil has been performing since he was twelve, and since then, he has combined his experiences of being a camp counselor, Clown Camp, Early Childhood Education training, and working in a daycare to fine-tune his art.  Mr. Phil creates “magical mayhem” by mixing the art of magic with storytelling, along with a bit of off-beat comedy.  Could there be a little balloon magic here, too?

The weekend is looking great!  What better way to spend it than by Lake Winnipesaukee with some fun activities for the whole family in beautiful Meredith Village?  Kick-start your summer with Arts Alive!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Kids Photo courtesy of The Winnipesaukee Playhouse
Mink Photo by  Peter G. Trimming at Flickr.com

New Adventures Await Visitors to the NH Lakes Region

This summer, visitors to the White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire will have more fun things to do thanks to Gunstock Mountain Resort.  The multifaceted resort is building an adventure ropes course and a Segway™ tour route that will add to the many activities already offered at their recreation area in Gilford, NH.

The Aerial Treetops Adventure course is nearing completion at the new Gunstock Mountain Resort Adventure Park.  It will consist 91 games that include 41 course challenges covering over 1000 feet, 22 ladders, and 12 zip lines totaling almost 1,400 feet in length.  “The ATA course will be the largest high ropes, zip line and adventure course in New England,” says Bill Quigley, Director of Marketing and Sales at Gunstock.  “While many are building fun things to stop traffic, ours is unique as it has been custom designed and built within the natural setting at Gunstock, taking advantage of beauty and topography of the 9 acres it covers.”

The Adventure Park will open on Friday, May 27^th, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.  The demo course and the five levels of adult courses will be ready for the holiday.  The kids’ course is still under construction, and will be finished by mid-summer along with the zip line tours.  “We are all very excited about the work that has been done since March 29^th,” says General Manager Greg Goddard.  “We still have work to complete the entire project by our target of early July, but the Aerial Treetop Adventure course is ready and better than we imagined.”

Also new at Gunstock is a Segway™ tour course, which utilizes the new Segway X2, an off-road version of their personal transportation machines.  Gunstock now has the only authorized Segway off-road tour experience in New England.  The course features some of the resort’s 50 miles of beautiful alpine and cross-country terrain, and guides will offer nature and historical tours of the area in this innovative new adventure.

Get ready for some new excitement this summer, and sign up for a Segway tour or visit the new Aerial Treetops Adventure course.  These adventures are sure to become your next family vacation tradition!  For more information or reservations, call 603-737-4388.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

photo courtesy of Gunstock Mountain Resort

Lakes Region Inns Continue to Support Greater Meredith’s Beautification and Conservation Efforts

Last year for Arbor Day, the Town of Meredith celebrated by planting two Princeton American Elms in Community Park on Main Street as part of a tree planting project through the Beautification & Conservation Fund, an ongoing venture of The Greater Meredith Program.  The group raises funds for the maintenance and planting of trees throughout the community, and The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls has played a major role in the success of the program.

Since 2009, this Lakes Region resort has contributed nearly $41,000 to the fund, allowing over 30 medium and large trees to be planted throughout Meredith Village.  The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls collects voluntary donations of $1.50 per night from guests at to support the effort.  Harbor Hill Campground in Meredith also collected a $1.00 voluntary donation from their guests and contributed over $800 to the fund in 2010.

“We are very proud to call Meredith home and to help raise funds for this beautification program to maintain the existing tree-scapes and add to the natural scenery along the Route 3 and 25 corridors,” says Rusty McLear, president and CEO of The Inns. “We are also proud to partner with the Town of Meredith, and the many other community members who are true collaborators and active participants with us in this effort.  The partnership between The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls and the Town of Meredith has helped to not only bring new visitors to our town but also to help maintain and enhance Meredith’s natural beauty.”

The Beautification and Conservation Fund of Meredith was established in January of 2009 to bring streetscape trees to the village’s core area and the Route 3 and 25 corridors.  So far, the organization, along with several businesses and private citizens, has planted eight Maple trees, an October Glory Maple, two Princeton American Elms, an ornamental Crabapple tree, nine large Red Maples, and two “Valley Forge” Elms, with eight more being planted around Main Street this spring.

“These tree plantings have helped the Town of Meredith qualify as a Tree City USA community again in 2010,” says McLear. In order to quality for Tree City certification, a town or city must meet certain standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of Foresters to ensure the community has a viable tree management program.   Adds McLear, “Receiving Tree City certification allows the Town of Meredith to receive extra opportunities for external funding.”

The Inns are pleased to help in the beautification of what McLear says is an “already magnificent part of New Hampshire.”  We hope to see you enjoying the beauty of Meredith soon!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit: daryl_mitchell at Flickr.com

Explore Vernal Pools in the Lakes Region

When the snow melts and spring rain falls in New Hampshire, little ponds and puddles, known as vernal pools, are found in the woods and forests.  These pools are rich with life while they last, and are an important part of the ecosystem here.  This month, two of the Lakes Region’s nature centers will be hosting educational walks that feature vernal pools at their peak, providing an outdoor adventure for the whole family!

On Saturday, April 16^th, head over to Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness for their Vernal Pool Exploration workshop.  The adventure begins inside where visitors can get an overview of what they hope to find and see photos of amphibians and invertebrates.  Then the group will take a short walk to a seldom-visited vernal pool on the Science Center’s grounds.  The exploration will Include collecting and observing some of the creatures who live in these temporary pools, possibly including wood frog eggs, spotted or Jefferson/blue spot salamander eggs, fairy shrimp, caddis fly larvae, and mosquito larvae.

The Fells Historic Estate & Gardens in Newbury will be conducting a Vernal Pool Walk on Saturday, April 30^th.  Kathleen Stowell from The Lake Sunapee Protective Association will lead curious visitors on a springtime adventure at this 84-acre property.  Guests will discover the many species that live in the vernal pools and learn why these habitats are so important.

But you don’t have to go too far to locate these amazing creatures coming to life—take a walk in your back yard or nearby forest trail and take a close look at some of the puddles.  The New Hampshire woods are waking up!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit: Nicholas_T at Flickr.com

Meredith Eatery a True Musical Venue

David Francey to play at the Grotto March 16

Since 1989, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Ristoranté in Meredith, NH has been serving up great live music with its award-winning Italian cuisine and festive charm.  The restaurant features well-known local and regional musicians seven nights a week, and has become one of most popular and loved destinations in the Lakes Region.   With the addition of its new room, “The Grotto,” Giuseppe’s can now host even more special events, and has lined up some national touring acts for its exciting new Dinner Concert Series.

Julie Gnerre-Bourgeois has owned and operated Giuseppe’s in the Mill Falls Marketplace for 21 years.  She takes pride in having an establishment that features live nightly musical entertainment, and is excited about the restaurant’s expansion in May, which will provide the space for concerts that they haven’t had until now.  “We recently created “The Grotto” at Giuseppe’s, a beautiful room in the original foundation of the old Linen Mill at Mill Falls,” says Julie.  “This room has character with old stone, brick, wood, wrought iron and canvas.”

The Grotto is available for private parties and wine dinners, and is regularly hosting Karaoke nights, DJ nights, and Live Band nights.  The new room provides an intimate concert setting, and will be the home to the new Dinner Concert Series beginning in March.  The series will feature national touring artists such as David Francey, Willy Porter, and Jeffrey Foucault.  Julie is also planning a local artist concert series for the future.  Food and beverages from the menu and full bar will be served during all shows.

“I am offering each artist 100% of the ticket sales and would be so pleased if we could fill the room for them,” says Julie.  “These touring artists work so hard, and are so very talented.  My interest is in sharing their music with the folks from around The Lakes, Mountains, and Seacoast Regions of New Hampshire.”

For more information on the concert series, as well as Giuseppe’s annual Music Memorial fundraiser, please visit their website or call the restaurant at 603-279-3313.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe’s Pizzaria & Ristorante

Storytelling Dinners at The Corner House Inn

Looking for another way to warm up the chilly winter nights?  Try a candlelit dinner in a cozy dining room, followed by an evening of storytelling in a quaint New England eatery.  The Corner House Inn in Center Sandwich, NH, offers storytelling dinners every Thursday night from October to May, and the series has proved to be a popular event.

Now in its 23^rd season, the Corner House Inn’s Storytelling Dinner Series is going strong, with a lineup of many fine storytellers from all over New England on its schedule.  Each Thursday features a different raconteur, with a different tale to tell!

Guests attending the storytelling event are treated to a full dinner, which includes salad, main course, a glass of wine, dessert, and coffee.  The varied menu offers something for everyone, and storytelling begins as soon as the dessert plates are cleared.  Dinner is served at 6:30 pm, and the cost is only $19.95 per person—quite a deal for a full evening of relaxation and fun!

Next Thursday’s featured storyteller is Travis Wallace from Fryeburg, Maine.  Travis, who has performed at the Corner House Inn many times in the past, is returning after a two-year hiatus.  He will be taking a new direction in storytelling and sharing material from his new memoir.  He calls the venue his “favorite, by far,” and is looking forward to the audience’s feedback on some “funny stuff” he has unearthed while writing his book.

At the end of May, the season will go out in style with a storytelling gala that showcases a variety of storytellers and their tales.  These dinners usually sell out quickly, so reservations are highly recommended.

Unplug for the night and join some local folks for some quality food and old-fashioned entertainment in the picturesque village of Center Sandwich.  It’s not far from this favorite Lakes Region resort, and well worth the drive!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photo courtesy of The Corner House Inn

Meredith Blacksmith Creates Beauty Throughout the Lakes Region and Beyond

Step into the Mill Falls Marketplace or Church Landing at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls, and the first thing you’re likely to notice is the beautiful metalwork that enhances the charm of the historic structures.  These stunning pieces were crafted by local blacksmith David Little of Winnepesaukee Forge, who has been honing his craft in the Lakes Region for almost three decades.

“I guess I refer to myself as an artist-blacksmith,” says David.  “I do all sorts of different types of work, from sculpture, furniture, railings, and fireplace screens, to beds and gates and custom light fixtures.  There’s a bunch of my work at the Inns.  The first stuff that we did was for the Mill Falls Marketplace.  I did all the railings in the center that take you up and down the different floors in the old mill building, and some little in-fill panels, and that was some pretty early work.  That was in the early 80’s.”

More recently, David crafted some artisan pieces at Church Landing.  “I did some handmade fireplace screens in a rustic pine motif in the lobby and for the big fireplace in the Flagship Ballroom,” he says.  “I made a rustic railing that’s on the front steps, the first thing you see and touch when you go into the Inn at Church Landing.” Read the rest of this entry »