TheLaker_June_10_24

Photo by Bielawski

Looking Ahead For The Next 100 Years: Laconia Motorcycle Week

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

The Laconia Motorcycle Week celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. The event has morphed into a major happening over the years, starting as a Gypsy Tour-type ride early in its history and growing until today’s “Bike Week” as it is affectionately called, is a big deal in the Lakes Region and far beyond.

Held from June 8 to 16 this year, there will be plenty of events for everyone – whether motorcyclist or spectator - at a variety of locations.

Predictions for the future of Bike Week are positively affirmed by Jennifer Anderson, Deputy Director for the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. “As far as where the rally is headed into the future, I think we will see some pretty significant changes, especially in the type of motorcycle, the type of rider, and interest in specific events.

“It’s important to remember that Motorcycle Week represents a cross-section of society and that the demographic changes with time. When I first started this job (in 1998), the typical rider reminded me of my Dad, who was also a motorcyclist. What was cool (at the time) were Big Harleys, shiny chrome, choppers, and leather. As with anything, the next generation likes to change things up (they don’t necessarily want to copy their parents). That may change to smaller and more maneuverable motorcycles (café-racing type bikes), on and off-road capabili-

ties such as Enduros, and comfort-first (BMW bikes for example).

Anderson adds, “I think people will always have an interest in racing, but I think we will see a resurgence of ‘yester-years’, and more interest in custom and vintage bikes.”

such as Hill Climbs, vintage and super motor races, and stunt shows. Laconia Motorcycle Week also has demo rides from some of the biggest major motorcycle manufacturers including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Yamaha and more. The area bustles with live music of all kinds, bike shows, and vendors featuring the latest and greatest in the motorcycle industry. Race fans can enjoy camping at Motorcycle Nirvana and be right in the center of the racing action for the vintage races, flat track, and Annual Loudon Classic.”

Anderson adds, “The obvious demographic change that I have seen over the last decade, and now even more so, is a sharp increase in female riders and in general, younger riders (in their 20s). There are a lot more affordable options for motorcycles now, and this opens up the sport to people just starting out in their careers.”

With that in mind, this year’s motorcycle week events are many and riders from all over the country and beyond, both male and female, will be in the Lakes Region to enjoy races and renew friendships with fellow bikers they may not have seen since last year or in the past.

When one asks why Bike Week is held in New Hampshire, according to

Laconia Motorcycle Week’s website (www.laconiamcweek.com), “The answers are … scenery, fresh air, and accessibility. Where else can you ride up and down mountains, through quaint New England towns, around magnificent lakes, and along miles of oceanfront? All within 100 miles, too. On top of that, New Hampshire has the fifth-highest motorcycle registrations per capita, and residents and businesses alike embrace the two-wheeled visitors that come here every June. Once here, riders enjoy the sights and sounds of this national motorcycle rally and can experience all of the thrills you would expect at AMA-sanctioned events

To get information on events and the Lakes Region’s scenic roadways and more, head to Rally Headquarters during Bike Week. Open daily at 8 a.m., the headquarters is on the boardwalk of Weirs Beach on Lakeside Avenue.

While Bike Week officially started on June 8, there is plenty to do all week. On June 10, the Mae-West Memorial “For the Love of Pets’ Ride” will take place, leaving Rally Headquarters at 10:30 a.m. for a ride through local

• Bike Week continued on page 4

Motorcycles lined up at Weirs Beach on a sunny day during Motorcycle Week. (Photo by Bielawski.)

NLRA Offers Wildflowers and Pollinators Program June 15

Join the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to noon to learn about local wildflowers and the pollinators that work with them.

Newfound Nature Station is a free program connecting youth and families to the natural world. This event will be held at Grey Rocks Conservation Area at 178 N Shore Road in Hebron and is open to all. Learn about the partnership that keeps terrestrial ecosystems productive as we explore the wildflower-pollinator relationship. Learn more about local species, play pollinator bingo on the trails at Grey Rocks, and make a

craft to take home.

Newfound Nature Station is part of NLRA’s year-round work to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty around them, learn more about the environment and how to protect it, and fall in love with the Newfound Watershed.

NLRA also maintains Grey Rocks Conservation Area, offering walking trails, a picnic area, fishing alcoves, and a non-motorized boat launch. This area is frequented by wildlife like loons, turtles, and bald eagles. Learn more about other upcoming events at NewfoundLake.org or call 603-744-8689.

scenic towns to 603 tent at the Weirs Beach Drive-In for raffles and prizes. The ride benefits local animal support. Line-ups begin at 8:30 a.m. and riders receive a custom t-shirt for their donation while they last.

On June 11, the famed AMA-Sanctioned Vintage Motorcycle Hill Climb (established in 1916) will take place at Weirs Beach on Tower Street from 1 to 3 p.m. The event has free admission and is a favorite with a speedy climb on steep Tower Street and a chance to see some fabulous vintage bikes in action.

Also on June 11, the Bagger, Vintage & Trike Motorcycle Show will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Weirs Beach Drive-In. If you love all-thingsvintage and motorcycles, this is the event for you!

From June 10 to 13 at 7 p.m., a 31st Best of the Bikers Pool Tournament will happen at Winni Bar & Billiards. The location for the tournament will be 131 Lake Street, Unit 24 in Gilford.

will go to Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel, Maine, and is escorted by Bentley, himself. Check www.bentleyssaloon. com for updates.

The Gunstock Amateur Hillclimb will bring more excitement on June 12 at 9 a.m. at Gunstock Mountain, located at 719 Cherry Valley Road in Gilford. Many fans attend the Hillclimb every year, and it is presented by Eastcoastin’ Enterprises. The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. event will offer food, beverages, and on-site camping. The Hillclimb sees competitors taking to a steep hill at Gunstock, to make it to the top, creating quite a thrilling day. Visit www.gunstock.com for information or call 603-737-4355.

Of course, race action and events will take place during Bike Week at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Rt. 106 in Loudon. Visit www.nhms. com for a schedule or call 603-7834931.

The popular Gypsy Tour is a 70-plus mile scenic ride leaving Rally Headquarters on Lakeside Avenue at Weirs Beach at 11 a.m. on July 11. The ride

This list is but a sampling of the many events during Bike Week in the Lakes Region. Anderson agrees with Charlie St. Clair, the executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, in saying there will always be motorcycles and there will always be a motorcycle week because, after all, “we are where rallies were invented.”

Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service

The Village Players: Live Theater Is Doing Well In Wolfeboro

By Mark Okrant

The Village Players have been front and center in the arts and culture scene within Wolfeboro for decades, having performed during their early years in schools and churches, while storing their costumes and equipment in local barns and other structures.

Beginning in the 1930s, the group performed shows to benefit the Wolfeboro Garden Club. In the 1940s, a three-show season ticket cost $1.60, with most of the shows performed at a church building known as The Masonic Hall. While those early Players may not have dreamed that they would have a hall of their very own, years later, that same building became The Village Players Theater.

These days, the company performs in its three-tiered theater that provides climate control for the players and their audiences, while the lighting and sound systems are first-rate. Asbestos has been removed and bathrooms reconstructed to accommodate handicapped access. The building was not always this accommodating. There are stories about how the roof leaked regularly, mushrooms were growing on the stage, the furnace was unreliable, and the basement flooded far too often.

Like most groups that dabble in this sector, The Players experienced their share of turbluence. After a period of inactivity during World War II, the group was later reorganized under the leadership of Francis Cleveland of The Barnstormers. “The Drama Workshop” was formed before disbursing for decades. Then, during the 1970s, The Village Players returned to life. In 1978, the group put on its first show, a review titled Yesteryears of Broadway This was followed by You Can’t Take It With You. One year later, in 1979, they performed Two Smiles and a Song

In 1980, The Village Players officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt educational, charitable or-

ganization with an overarching mission “to provide entertainment at reasonable prices for the surrounding community and to encourage and develop participation by amateurs in all phases of the theater arts.” Throughout the years, the Village Players have performed an impressive array of programs, ranging from comedy to mysteries to song and dance to full plays. In 1997, they began offering a one-act play as part of the Wolfeboro First Night event. It was a humorous melodrama, presenting a total of two to three plays and full-scale musicals each year.

The beauty of a local company such as The Village Players is that ticket sales are used to support ongoing costs such as heat and utilities, insurance, routine maintenance, and play production. An ongoing problem has resulted from the age of the building that houses the theater. Owing to gifts and pledges, the infrastructure of the building—front steps, wiring, plumbing (water and sewer), backstage storage, and lighting—have all been renovated. Inside the auditorium, stage curtains, new flooring, and refurbished seating were installed. Special care was taken so seats were installed with good views of the stage and abundant legroom. The light booth also was refurbished. Currently, the group produces three or four full-length shows each year, usually a musical in the fall and oc-

casionally another production based upon the company’s workshops. In an effort to raise funds for maintaining and renovating the theater, professional comics from the Boston area have been hired to perform during the summer months. More recently, big-screen movies have been shown at the theater. These are very popular.

Students can apply for grants as part of their post-secondary education. Scholarships in theater arts are offered each year to students who plan to continue their participation in one form or another. This is one of many ways to become involved in the Players. Besides acting, other opportunities include costume design, serving as ushers, and box office work. Participants in the Players represent a range of ages and education levels. The group welcomes new members and supporters into any of its activities—throughout the year, regardless of their role, race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orien-

tation, or military status.

This season, the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction will hold the third annual theater fundraising event, “An Evening of Broadway,” on Wednesday, August 14, at 7 p.m., at the Colonial Theatre in Laconia. The Village Players have been invited to participate in raising funds for children’s charities throughout the Lakes Region.

During the 2024 season, the following will be produced:

July 12, 13: Carolyn Plummer & Friends Homecoming Comedy Night, starring TV’s Jonathan Kite.

August 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, & 25: Wyrd Sisters is Terry Pratchett’s zany tale of a wicked duke and duchess, a ghost of a murdered king, dim soldiers, strolling players, a land in peril, and three witches who stand between the Kingdom and destruction.

November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, & 10: Bye Bye Birdie, with teenagers, rock & roll, and national television, this wonderful musical captures the energy and excitement of the late 1950s with warmth, hilarity, and an unforgettable score.

December 13, 14, & 15: DeThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a fun romp occurs when the Herdmans—probably the most inventively awful kids in history—collide head-on with the story of Christmas.

The Village Players Theater is located at 51 Glendon Street in Wolfeboro. For detailed information or to donate, visit village-player.com, email info@ village-players.com, or call 603-5699656.

Husband and wife chefs owned & operated reservations & more info

LaBocaLLC.com walking distance from Wolfeboro town docks

By Kelly Ross

I

This

potato salad, Cole slaw, as well as a cucumber salad suited to any outdoor BBQ or any potluck. Feel free to tweak as needed. Let’s eat!

Starting with two Cole slaw recipes. The first is a cranberry apple slaw and is tangy, sweet, and wonderfully crunchy. This side dish can be made in 20 minutes and feeds 8. I prefer to let it sit for a few hours, but it is also an instant favorite.

Cranberry Apple Coleslaw

1 bag of Cole slaw mix, 16 oz, or 1 small head of cabbage and a couple of carrots, shredded

3-4 medium apples, sliced very thin ½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup mayo

3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 1 large lemon

1 tbsp sugar

½ tsp kosher salt

Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the cabbage and carrots. Toss with tongs to coat. Add the apple slices and cranberries. Toss once more to combine.

Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Now, Cole slaw with a buffalo flavor to it, plus crumbled blue cheese. The dressing is outstanding, and the timetable and portions are pretty much the same as the last recipe.

Buffalo Cole Slaw

For The Slaw

½ large head green cabbage, thinly sliced

½ white onion, thinly sliced

4 stalks celery, chopped into small pieces

2 medium carrots, grated

1 cup crumbled blue cheese, divided

1 tbsp chopped chives

For the Dressing

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup of your favorite hot sauce

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp kosher salt

In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, celery, carrots and ¾ cup blue cheese. Stir until combined. For the dressing: in a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, hot sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, and salt. Whisk until combined.

Pour dressing over slaw mixture. Toss with salad tongs. Garnish with chives and remaining blue cheese. Eat right away or refrigerate for later.

This next recipe is a twist on a traditional potato salad, minus the mayo. The dressing uses apple cider vinegar, whole grain mustard, honey, olive oil, and the yolks of soft-boiled eggs. The toasted mustard seeds and chopped dill pickles make for fabulous additions. Makes 8 servings. Let sit for up to 2 hours.

Potato Salad With Mustard

Vinaigrette

2 ½ lbs. new or baby Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed

4 large eggs, room temp

1 tsp mustard seeds

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp whole grain mustard

1 tsp honey

1/3 cup olive oil

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 cup parsley leaves with tender stems

3 tbsp coarsely chopped dill pickles

2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

Steam potatoes, covered, in a metal steamer basket set in a large pot over boiling water until tender, 20–30 minutes (they can be boiled, but absorb water). Transfer to a plate. Let cool. Meanwhile, cook eggs in a large saucepan of boiling water until whites are set and yolks are still slightly soft, 7 minutes. Drain and transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill until cold. Drain and peel. Set eggs aside. Toast mustard seeds in a dry small skillet over medium-low heat, tossing constantly, until seeds start to pop, about 1 minute. Be ready with a bowl because they jump! Whisk vinegar, mustard, and honey in a large bowl. Whisking constantly, gradually add oil, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Set 3 tbsp vinaigrette aside for drizzling. Halve potatoes and add to bowl with vinaigrette. Add parsley and toss to coat, then season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter. Halve reserved eggs and tuck in between potatoes. Drizzle with reserved vinaigrette. Top with pickles, chives, and toasted mustard seeds. Makes for a fun and unique spud salad.

Now, pasta salads with an ethnic flare to them. The first has an Asian influence with just enough soy, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Chicken pairs with veggies, and couples as a luncheon meal. This can be made in 30 minutes, and tastes better refrigerated for several hours. Makes 4-8 servings.

Asian Pasta Salad

1 box of tri-color rotini, 16 oz ½ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup sesame seeds

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

3 tbsp sugar

¼ tsp fresh cracked black pepper

3 cups of cooked and cubed chicken breast, ideally grilled first

2 cups fresh baby spinach

1 cup shredded carrot

2 red bell peppers, thinly julienned and then cut the strips in half

Cook pasta as directed and set aside. Cook sesame seeds in a skillet on medium heat for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted. Set aside. Mix the vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds and pepper with a whisk until well combined. Pour dressing mixture over pasta, chicken breasts, red pepper, shredded carrots, and spinach. Mix until coated evenly.

Now for the final pasta salad. This quick and healthy version is tossed with the elements of a Greek salad, plus chickpeas for added protein. This pasta salad holds well in the refrigerator (or cooler) and tastes even better as the pasta absorbs the tomato infused vinaigrette. Total time 30 minutes. Serves 4-6. Feel free to let it set for a bit before serving. Great with pita chips.

Greek Pasta Salad

2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped

2 small cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp red-wine vinegar

8 oz whole-wheat farfalle or similar

sized pasta

1 can chickpeas, 15 oz, rinsed

1 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped into ½ inch pieces

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

⅓ cup quartered pitted Kalamata olives

2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 2 tsp dried

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Combine tomatoes, garlic, oil, and vinegar in a large bowl. Let stand while you cook the pasta. Cook pasta in the boiling water until just tender, 8-10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again. Add the pasta to the tomato mixture along with chickpeas, cucumber, feta, olives, and oregano. Gently toss to combine.

Now…what could easily become your new “go to” summer salad. This gorgeously green cucumber salad, paired with sweet honeydew melon and peppery arugula, has yummy burrata scattered over the top for an extra creamy texture. Serve with anything from the grill or enjoy as a light meal with crusty bread. Takes less than a half hour and makes a side dish for 6. Best eaten immediately.

Crunchy Cucumber Salad with

Creamy Burrata

3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 ½ tsp honey

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground pepper

¼ cup chopped fresh basil

4 cups lightly packed baby arugula

4 cups cubed honeydew melon

1 ½ cups cucumber batons, 2 inches long

1 burrata ball, 3 ¾ oz, sliced ¼ cup toasted pepitas

Whisk lemon juice, oil, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in basil. Place arugula in a large bowl. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Transfer to a platter. Scatter honeydew and cucumbers over the arugula, then top with burrata slices. Sprinkle pepitas over the salad, then drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette. Happy Father’s Day and enjoy the festivities. Keep your taste buds happy and smiling. If you care to touch base with any questions or feedback, please reach out at fenwaysox10@gmail.com

Yesteryear

Summering On Squam

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Tourism in New Hampshire, and specifically the Lakes Region, got a boost in the 1980s when the movie On Golden Pond was filmed in the Squam Lakes area. Locals and vacationers were thrilled that stars such as Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, and Jane Fonda were in the area filming the movie.

Once the movie was released, a wide audience saw the Lakes Region in all its splendor. The movie brought visitors to the Squam Lakes and elsewhere in the Lakes Region. But for those who vacationed in the area from generation to generation, the Squam region was already well-known and beloved.

In the 1800s, the wealthy came to Squam for leisurely vacations, many staying for the entire summer. Squam area towns were modest in population, but many communities had hotels, both large and more modest, where a wealthy family could take over a series of rooms or a suite for a few months. Center Harbor, Holderness, and towns throughout the Squam area welcomed families for a gentrified summer in the latter part of the 1800s and into the 1900s.

As did the northern New Hampshire White Mountain hotels, the lodging businesses of the Squam Lakes area sent coaches to greet guests at various train stations. Coach drivers would load guests and their mounds of luggage and transport them to hotels such as The Willows, Maplehurst on Little Squam, the Holderness Inn, and the Asquam House.

The Willows, a popular hotel on Little Squam Lake, opened in 1895 and

was run by Benjamin Pease and his family until the mid-1960s, according to “A Little History of Squam Lakes” by Catherine Hartshorn Campbell. With 40 guest rooms, accommodations were not overly fancy, but werre entirely adequate. The hotel was popular and had a lot going for it at the time: excellent food and the good company of other guests who chose to summer there year after year.

At the peak of the summer grand hotel craze, the Bachelder House opened in the 1890s. Guests traveled via rail to nearby Ashland and were transported by the hotel for a protracted summer stay. The roads all over the area were bumpy and crude by today’s standards, and while wealthy guests had to endure a difficult ride, they did so just to reach the hotel and all its enticements.

Atop Shephard’s Hill was the large Asquam House, mirroring the style and elegance of the famed and ornate White Mountain grand hotels. The

three-story hotel had a long front porch with great views where guests could sit and enjoy the fresh air and watch the world go by while socializing with fellow guests. According to the newsletter of the Holderness Historical Society, the Asquam House was built in 1880 at 325 feet above the shoreline with views of Asquam, Little Squam, and Minnisquam (also known as White Oak Pond), as well as stunning views of the lakes, islands and surrounding mountains.

Such notables at the time chose to stay at the Asquam House and that included John George Nicolay, who had served as Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary. Falling in love with the Squam area, Nicolay and his daughter, Helen, later built a cottage on Shepard Hill.

Hotel owners knew they had to offer entertainment for their guests over the course of the summer and they looked to the nearby lakes for inspiration. In 1907 the Asquam Lake Water Sports event took place and included a carnival, a flotilla of many boats, and lots of music. The event was huge, and people came from as far away as Concord,

New Hampshire to enjoy the celebration and maybe glimpse a famous or wealthy family staying at a local hotel.

During the Water Sports event, area camps and hotels joined in the fun and decorated with Chinese lanterns and decked out lakefront homes with bunting and other eye-catching decorations.

Hotels such as the Mount Livermore lit around 3,000 colored lights and offered fireworks during the festive event. The event brought a bevy of entertainment to the visitors and hotel guests in the Holderness area and was likely spoken about long after that summer ended.

In downtown Holderness, the Inn towered over the quiet streets. Built in 1895, the Holderness Inn may be the only remaining hotel from an era when large lodging establishments peppered the Lakes Region. It was a three-story, wooden framed building with a wraparound porch on three of its sides. The main floor had meeting rooms, kitchens, a dining room, and other reception rooms. On the second floor guest rooms were offered. (The building was later turned over to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.)

As much as visitors enjoyed a stay at a Squam Lake hotel in the late 1800s to early 1900s, some chose to build their own home for summer use. They loved the area so dearly they wanted something permanent and perhaps more private where they could while away summer days and welcome fellow wealthy family and friends for protracted stays.

One such instance was the Schrafft family, owners of a big candy company who came to the Squam Lake region and put down summer home roots in the early 1900s. According to Rachel

• Yesteryear continued on page 11

Photo by Stoddard Whitridge

The Asquam House in all its summertime glory.

Granite VNA Offers Online

Caregiver

Connection

Granite VNA is offering an online caregiver group on Thursday, June 27 at 10 a.m. This program takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month. Registration is required.

Caregiver Connection is an opportunity for family caregivers to support one another and connect with staff professionals in a safe space with other caregivers facing similar challenges. Technical instruction is available to participate in the group.

Registration is required. Once con-

• Yesteryear continued from page 10

Carley’s book, Squam, Robert Herman Otto Schulz (of Boston) and his wife, Louise Schrafft, built a home on a cove in the area. They named their summer home Indian Carry after a supposed Indian trail on the land. The couple’s estate had seven buildings, including the large home, as well as a boathouse and bunkhouse. Louise’s family likely visited her and fell in love with the area as well. Her brother, William Schrafft and his wife built nearby on a rise with breathtaking views of the area. The home was called Chimney Pots and was designed in a chalet style. Other Schrafft family homes were Lochland, later to be purchased by television broadcaster William S. Paley (Frank Sinatra and other Rat Packers were said to have been among the guests to the home), and the former Sunset House (Inn), once owned by Benjamin Moore paint chairman Livingston Moore.

firmed, participants will receive a link to the program.

Granite VNA is a certified home health and hospice care provider providing palliative care, pediatric and maternal child health services, and wellness programming. The agency has offices in Concord, Laconia, and Wolfeboro.

To register, call 603-224-4093, ext. 85815 or visit www.granitevna.org/onlineprograms

According to Summer Cottages in the White Mountains – The Architecture of Leisure and Recreation 1870 to 1930, by Bryant F. Tolles, Jr., among the first houses built for use as a summer “cottage” in the Squam Lake Region was that of engineer William Norton. The Norton’s were so impressed with the beauty of the area that they bought land in Holderness and built The Pines, a wonderful summer home. Squam by Rachel Carley, relays that it was the custom to build summer homes away from the lakes and ponds in the late 1800s. It was thought insects around water bodies carried illness, therefore the Norton’s built their cottage near the top of Shepard Hill, which gave them great views of the lake and mountains. Most of the old hotels are gone, often victims of fire, but memories of their grandeur remain. Travel around the Squam Lake area and you may find, here and there, a large summer home built in the days when wealth and privilege brought many to the area for a celebratory summer.

Meredith Fine Craft Gallery Classes

Join printmaker Bill Mitchell on Saturday, June 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a “Foam Block Printing” class. Explore a fun and easy block printing process with low-cost foam blocks. Students will learn how to carve into foam materials with simple drawing tools to create a stamp-like block that can be repeatedly ink and printed.

Join juried artist Joy Raskin on Saturday, June 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to make “Sparkly Tube-Set Earrings”. Students will make one or two pairs of earrings using sparkly faceted gemstones set in sterling silver tube bezels. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

The mission of the League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is to encourage, nurture and promote the creation, use and preservation of fine contemporary and traditional craft through the inspiration and education of artists and the broader community. Located at 279 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith. Call 603-279-7920, or visit meredith.nhcrafts.org

A beautiful hand-carved alabaster bowl donated by Rick Amon will be raffled off to also benefit Gerda's Equine Rescue. Tickets available at the Gallery.

June Exhibit A tribute to Lynn Haust, artist, teacher, friend. Now through June 30

Lynn loved horses. To celebrate her life we have collected work from various artists featuring work depicting horses.

10% of all sales of equestrian themed pieces will be donated to Gerda's Equine Rescue Organization in Lynn's memory.

in the Gallery or ONLINE

279 DW Hwy. • Meredith • 603-279-7920 • Meredith.NHCrafts.org • Mon - Sat: 10-5 • Sun: 12-5 Like us on Facebook so you can see other beautiful things made by NH’s finest artists ~ www.facebook.com/nhcraft

Through June 16, Laconia Motorcycle Week, events around Lakes Region, races, Gypsy Rides and much more, www.laconiamcweek.com

Through Sept. 1, D-Day: Freedom From Above, exhibit on WWII/D-Day, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org

June 1 – 30, In Memory of Lynn, exhibit honoring the life/work of League artist Lynn Haust, work by League artists with 100% of proceeds going to Gerda’s Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming horses in need, info.: League of NH Craftsmen Gallery, 279 DW Hwy. Meredith, 603-279-7920, www.nhcrafts.org/meredith

June 10, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Eric Grant performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 10, Solar Gazing, noon – 4 p.m. free, pre-registration encouraged, field by Shannon Pond, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 11, Cricut: Paper Lantern, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 11, Gallery Gathering, celebrating 30 years of the Wright Museum, special guests and more, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www. wrightmuseum.org

June 11, Introduction to Traditional Rug Hooking, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 11, Lecture Series: Joe McQuaid-War Fronts, Home Fires, 7 - 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures on life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org

June 11, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Audrey Drake performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 11, Understanding Loons, 6 – 7 p.m., presentation by Loon Preservation Committee, event by Moose Mountain Regional Greenways, info.: 603-473-2020, www. mmrgnh.org.

June 11, Watercolor Workshop, noon – 2 p.m. & 3:15 – 5:15 p.m., pre-registration required, instructor Pat Edsall, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 11 & 15, Nature Station, 10 a.m. – noon, explore Grey Rocks Conservation Area, free, open to all, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org

June 11 & 18, Yarn Coil Baskets, with Martha Koons, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., pre-register at ArtWorks Gallery, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

June 11-18, Adult Keel Boat Sailing, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuftonboro Town Beach, 19 Mile Bay, Tuftonboro, students learn to crew and helm a 22-ft. keelboat, NH Boat Museum, info.: 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org

June 12, Cricut: Decorative Garden Flag, 9 a.m. - noon, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 12, Gunstock Hillclimb, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Gunstock, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, admission charged, gates open at 8 a.m., raffle, food, vendors on site, 603-2934341.

June 12, Hill Climb Après Party Live Music with Black and Bluez, 5 – 8 p.m., Beans & Greens Farm Pavilion, 245 Intervale Rd., Gilford, 603-293-2853.

June 12, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Colin Hart performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 12, Silent Film Series “Our Hospitality”, 6:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.

June 12, Stained Glass: Flower Heart, 6 – 9 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 12, Weaving Demonstration with Madison Warped Weavers, 10 – 11 a.m., Tamworth History Center, 25 Great Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-2911, www.tamworthhistorycenter.org

June 12, Yoga on the Lawns, 6 – 7 p.m., pre-registration required, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 13, Decades Night, 6:30 - 8 p.m., pre-registration required, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 13, Hand Painted Bottle Lights, instructor Diane Campbell, 6:30 - 8 p.m., League of NH Craftsmen, Center Sandwich Fine Craft Gallery, 32 Main St., Sandwich, pre-register/info.: 603-284-6831, centersandwich.nhcrafts.org/.

June 13, NLRA Volunteer Day, 10 a.m. – noon, all ages welcome to volunteer to help save the watershed, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org

June 13, Sing-along with Jim Tyrell, 6 - 7 p.m., Beans & Greens Farm Pavilion, 245 Intervale Rd., Gilford, 603-293-2853.

What’s UP

June 13, Volcanoes & Cellar Holes: The History of the Land Walking Tour, 1 – 2:30 p.m., pre-registration required, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 14, Jake Shimabukuro, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.

June 14, Learn to Quilt – A Beginner’s Class, with instructor Linda Merwin, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., League of NH Craftsmen, Center Sandwich Fine Craft Gallery, 32 Main St., Sandwich, pre-register/info.: 603-284-6831, centersandwich.nhcrafts.org/.

June 14, North River Band, 6 – 7 p.m., free, public welcome, bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating, Rotary Park, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-5248813, www.belknapmill.org.

June 15, Alcohol Inks: The Easy-Going Cousin of Watercolor, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 15, Another Tequila Sunrise, Eagles Tribute, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774.

June 15, Barrymore’s Ghost, 7:30 p.m., Barnstormers Theatre, 104 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8500, www.barnstormerstheatre.org.

June 15, Children’s Day, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., games, crafts, snacks and more, NH Farm Museum, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org

June 15, Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race, 9 am, Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, mt-washington.com, 603-466-3988.

June 15, Foam Block Printing with William Mitchell, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., pre-register by June 10, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.

June 15, Inside a Beehive – Nature Education, 1 – 3 p.m., multigenerational program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www. prescottfarm.org. Info./pre-registration: 603-366-5695.

June 15, Lucknow Garden Tour, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., pre-registration required, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www. castleintheclouds.org

June 15, Market Baskets Workshop, with Mary Jeanne Luckey, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., pre-register at ArtWorks Gallery, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

June 15, Minis on Top, 5 p.m., Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, https://mt-washington.com, 603-466-3988.

June 15, Spinning Yard on a Drop Spindle, 1 – 3 p.m., Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org., pre-registration: 603-366-5695.

June 15, Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 10 am-noon, Saturdays, held in parking lot of UUFES, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org

June 15, Wire Linked Beaded Bracelet, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 15 & 16, Lace Tatting for All, instructor Elaine O’Donal, League of NH Craftsmen, Center Sandwich Fine Craft Gallery, 32 Main St., Sandwich, pre-register/info.: 603-284-6831, centersandwich.nhcrafts.org/.

June 17-Aug. 16, Youth Sailing, Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, 25 Davis Rd., Gilford, www.lwsa.org., 603-589-1177.

June 16 An Evening with Gaelic Storm, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774.

June 16 & July 21, Belknap County Day, Gunstock Mountain Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, 603-293-4341, www.gunstock.com.

June 16, Billy Wylder, 7 p.m., Feel the Barn Concert Series, 1118 Page Hill Rd., Chocorua, 603-323-6169, www.thefarmstand.net

June 16, Open Farm Day, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., horse drawn wagon rides, craft demos, sawmill and grist mill, Sanborn Mills Farm, 7097 Sanborn Rd., Loudon, 603-435-7314, www.sanbornmills.org.

June 17, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Jared Steer performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 17, Solar Gazing, noon – 4 p.m. free, pre-registration encouraged, field by Shannon Pond, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 18, Cricut: Pair of Coffee Mugs, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 18, Lecture Series: Ron Janowski – Breakout from Normandy, 7 - 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org

June 18, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Mark Bartrum performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 18, On Water Instruction, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Goodhue Boat Company class, 31 Lovejoy Sands off Meredith Neck Rd., Meredith, via NH Boat Museum, 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org

June 19, Cricut: Paper Lantern, 9 a.m. - noon, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

June 19, Garden Programs: Kirkwood Gardens Guided Tour, 9:30 a.m., Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

June 19, Music Night at the Castle, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m. seating, Charles A. Music performs, dinner on the patio, Carriage House, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./ Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

June 19, Yoga on the Lawns, 6 – 7 p.m., pre-registration required, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts/CCAC, art, workshops and events, open year-round with seasonal hours, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www.chocoruaartworks. com

Bad Mom Night, every Thurs., Trenta, 30 Middleton Rd., Wolfeboro, 603-515-1068, www.trentanh.com.

Barnstead Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 1 Parade Circle, Barnstead, nhbarnsteadfarmersmarket1@gmail.com, www.barnsteadfarmersmarket.com.

Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.

Bristol Farmers Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Millstream Park, Rt. 3, Bristol, bristolopenairmarket@ atlanticbb.net.

Canterbury Shaker Village, walking trails, tours, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-7839511, www.shakers.org

Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, restaurant, music, walking trails, tours, events, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods, nature trails open for hiking, 740 Mt. Israel Rd., Center Sandwich, 603-284-6428, www.chapmansanctuaryvisnywoods.com.

Coffee Hour, 10 – 11 a.m., coffee, tea and snacks, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537, Effingham.lib.nh.us.

Corn Hole League, 6 – 8:30 a.m., Thursdays through June 27, Foss Field Pavilion, 88 Lehner St., Wolfeboro, wolfeboro.recdesk.community/program

Country Music Brunch, Sundays, brunch food & music, Beans & Greens Farm Pavilion, 245 Intervale Rd., Gilford, 603-293-2853.

Country Village Quilt Guild, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., meets first and third Wednesday of each month, Public Safety Building (back entrance to Police and Fire Dept.), Rte. 25, Moultonborough, countryvillagequilters@gmail.com.

Cruise Night, 5 – 7 p.m., Thursdays, 50/50 raffle, prizes, Tilt’n Diner, 61 Laconia Rd., Tilton, 603-286-2204. (Thursdays until Oct. 26)

Dam Brewhouse, events, 1323 NH Rte. 175, Campton, 603-726-4500, www.dambrewhouse.com.

First Friday Receptions, June-Dec., 5 - 7 p.m., refreshments, conversation & art, ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www.chocoruaartworks.com

Gilmanton Farmers Market, through Oct. 6, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sundays, local vegetables, flowers, plants, crafts, baked goods, live music and more, 1385 NH 140, on lawn of Gilmanton Year Round Library, Gilmanton Iron Works, 603-491-1687, www.gilmantonfarmersmarket.com

Guided Group Tour, history and machines of the historic Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, pre-register: jill@belknapmill.org, 603-524-8813, Monday-Friday.

In the Round, 8:45 a.m., Sundays, thought-provoking topics related to tolerance, Benz Center, Sandwich, 603-284-7211.

Indoor Pickleball, 5 p.m., Sandwich Central School gym, Sandwich, every Tues., Wed. & Fri., parksandrec@sandwichnh.org

Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., meets second and fourth Wednesday of each month, First Congregational Church, 115 Main St., Wolfeboro. A second group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Community Center, 22 Lehner St., Wolfeboro, www.llqg.net

Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, youth and adult sailing lessons, sailing competitions, Gilford, www.lwsa.org, 603-589-1177.

Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org

Laverack Nature Trail at Hawkins Brook, nature trail on boardwalk, free, trail starts to the left of Meredith Village Savings Bank, Rte. 25, Meredith, 603-279-9015.

League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, handmade crafts and art for sale, workshops, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.

Loon Center, walking trails, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-476-5666, www.

What’s UP

loon.org

Makers Mill, a variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

Making Strides, 8 – 9 a.m., drop-in walking for groups or singles, Ossipee Town Hall, no pre-registration required, 55 Main St., Center Ossipee, takes place various times: www.ossipee.recdesk.com.

Market on Main, 3 – 6 p.m., farmers market, every other Wed., June 12-Oct. 2, 115 Main St., Alton, www.altonmarketonmain.com, 513-519-8264.

Meredith Public Library Bookstore, run by Friends of the Meredith Library, open weekly: Wed. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., lower level, Meredith Public Library, 91 Main St., Meredith, 603-279-4303, www.meredithlibrary.org.

Model Yachting, 1 – 4 p.m., Back Bay Skippers at Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Bridge Falls Path, Wolfeboro, watch radio controlled model yachts, NH Boat Museum, schedule: www.nhbm.org.

Molly the Trolley, take tours/rides of Wolfeboro area aboard the fun trolley, info/schedules: 603-569-1080, www.wolfeborotrolley.com

M/S Mount Washington Cruises, narrated cruises of Lake Winnipesaukee, day & evening cruises, M/S Mount Washington, 211 Lakeside Ave., Weirs Beach, 603-366-BOAT, www.cruisenh.com

Newfound Cruzers Antique Car Gathering, Fridays through Labor Day, 5 – 8 p.m., at Village Pizza, 825 Lake St., Bristol, weather permitting, free, over 100 classic & antique cars, theme nights, raffles, parades, 603-744-5497.

New England Racing Museum, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., open Saturdays, 922 NH Rte. 106 N., Loudon, www.NEMSMUSEUM.com

NH Boat Museum, boating exhibits, programs, boat building workshops, 399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org

NH Farm Museum, old-time farm events, tours, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org

Newfound Lake Eco-Tours, informative/scientific tours of Newfound Lake, runs until mid-Sept., Newfound Lake Association, www.newfoundlake.org, call for hours/dates of operation: 603-744-8689.

Outdoor Nature-Based Storytime for Young Children, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.

Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.

Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, events, tours, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.

Roller Skating Night, 5 p.m., Mondays, bring your own skates, for age 18 and up, Ossipee Town Hall, 55 Main St., Ossipee, info/updates: 603-539-1307, www.ossipee.org.

Rug Hookers, 10 a.m. – noon, meets Tuesdays, Tuftonboro Free Library, 221 Middle Rd., Rt. 109A, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4256.

Sailing Lessons, youth & adult, Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, 25 Davis Rd., Gilford, schedule/pre-register: 603-589-1177, www.lwsa.org

Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015.

Sing-Along Night with Jim Tyrell, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Thursdays, Beans & Greens Farm Pavilion, 245 Intervale Rd., Gilford, 603-293-2853.

Squam Lake Cruises, family/educational cruises to look for loons & wildlife, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, exhibits, nature trails, events, cruises, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org

Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. - noon, Saturdays, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org

That Trivia Guy, 6 – 9 p.m., Wednesdays, individuals or groups play trivia games with host, Beans & Greens Farm Pavilion, 245 Intervale Rd., Gilford, 603-293-2853.

The Market at the Weirs, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays, fresh produce, meats and artisan crafts, through Oct. 5, Weirs Community Park, 49 Lucerne Ave., Weirs Beach, email: bamm-nh.org., www.themarketatweirs.com

Tuftonboro Country Bluegrass and Gospel Jam, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays, donation requested, Old White Church, Rte. 109A, Center Tuftonboro, across from Tuftonboro General Store, 603-569-3861.

Wolfeboro Farmers Market, noon – 3:30 p.m., Thursdays, The Nick, 10 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro, email: wolfeborofarmersmarket@gmail.com, www.wolfeborofarmersmarket.com.

Wolfeboro Table Tennis, meets Wednesdays from 4 – 6 p.m., in basement of All Saints Church, Wolfeboro, all skill levels welcome, $5 admission charge each week, info: 603520-5651.

Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures on life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org

Gunstock Mountain Resort Now Open For Summer Adventures

Gunstock Mountain Resort’s award-winning Adventure Park and 250-site campground is now open for the season.

Early season hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends-only through June 23, then operating until 4 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday until early September. Gunstock’s campground operates daily through October 20.

“People who only know Gunstock as a winter-sports resort are often surprised to discover that we’re a favorite summer attraction too,” said Gunstock Resort President and General Manager Tom Day. “Gunstock is loved by Lakes Region visitors and residents alike. Accolades earned again this year include New Hampshire Magazine’s Readers’ Poll that named Gunstock a Best of NH winner, declaring it the best Summer Outdoor Attraction in the Lakes Region.”

Gunstock’s Adventure Park caters to thrill-seeking visitors of varying degrees.

The scenic chairlift ride accommodates up to four passengers and is equipped with a safety restraining bar. Guests can enjoy views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains at the summit.

Gunstock’s Mountain Coaster is a roller-coaster-like ride on an open to-

boggan that can accommodate a single passenger or two riders. The cart climbs uphill and eventually descends for an exciting ride following the mountain’s natural contours.

Visitors on the ZipTour soar above the trees from peak to peak for 1.6 miles, making it one of the longest

zipline tours in the continental United States. The Aerial Treetop Adventure is New England’s largest aerial obstacle course and offers a total of 81 varied challenges, including the Explorer Course just for kids. In addition to the zipline, participants traverse log ladders, swinging bridges, and seesaws. Nestled into the base of the Belknap Mountains, the Gunstock Campground is in the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Wooded and open field sites with fire rings and picnic tables serve as home base for guests who enjoy overnight accommodations in a natural setting with easy access to amenities: a camp store, playground, a heated swimming pool, dog park, bath houses, hiking and biking trails, a stocked fishing pond, and Gunstock’s Adventure Park. Gunstock campers receive a discount on Adventure Park activities during their stay. For more information, visit gunstock.com or call 603-293-4341 to book a visit.

Wright Museum Offers ‘Indomitable Spirit’ Lecture June 11

On Tuesday, June 11, the Wright Museum will offer the second program in its 2024 Education Series as it welcomes World War II newspaper corre-

spondent, B.J. McQuaid. McQuaid covered American and British front lines from the frozen Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the steaming

Concord, New Hampshire

jungles and seas of the South Pacific, at Tarawa and Guadalcanal, and then to Europe from D-Day forward in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He interviewed Sir Bernard Law Montgomery during the Battle of the Bulge and went toe-to-toe with U.S. Third Army General George S. Patton.

He interviewed and got the names of frontline soldiers and sailors, providing a link to their families back home in towns and cities across the United States. His stories ran in more than 80 American newspapers through the Chicago Daily News Service.

Peg McQuaid, his wife, was keeping the Home Fires burning back in New Hampshire, providing for herself and their two small children. She dealt with food, oil, and gasoline rationing while

regularly corresponding with her husband overseas. Theirs is a story of love, of sacrifice, and of hope.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. at the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, located at 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection representing both the home front and battlefield. To make reservations or for more information, visit wrightmuseum.org or call 603-5691212.

New Hampshire Farm Museum ‘Children’s Day’ On June 15

Join the New Hampshire Farm Museum on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a day of childish play, enhanced learning, and a glimpse into rural life as it once was.

Learn firsthand about the important roles that children played on the farm. Picnic overlooking the Olde Stage Road which once carried travelers in stagecoaches up to the White Mountains (luncheon items will be available for purchase).

Try your hand at making old-fashioned ice cream or decorate a cookie with young Emma on the porch. Chil-

dren aged 12 and under may compete in the pie-eating contest (prizes will be awarded). String Equinox will feature live music throughout the day.

Field events will include sack races, a three-legged race, an egg-in-a-spoon race, wheelbarrow races, and more. Join with family and friends in parachute games. Take a tractor ride to explore the 50-plus acres. Meet the cows, sheep, and pigs as they graze in their pastures.

Children will enjoy doing colonial chores as their colonial counterparts once did such as using a scrub board

and a wringer washer to wash the clothes, pump water, or carry buckets with a wooden yoke.

A live storyteller will read The Ox Cart Man by New Hampshire native Donald C. Hall. Come see some of the items that were brought to Portsmouth Market as described in this book.

Visit the Blacksmith Shoppe and witness the blacksmith swinging his hammer and firing up the forge. Participate in the Big Yellow Barn Scavenger Hunt where prizes are awarded for those who finish.

Tour the Historic Jones House and

1810 Tavern where five generations of the same family once called home. Stop by the Country Store to purchase a unique souvenir. Come join this event for an eventful day where the past meets the present.

The NH Farm Museum is located at 1305 White Mountain Highway in Milton. Visit www.nhfarmmuseum.org, nhfarmmuseum.info@gmail.com, or call 603-652-7840 for more information. “The mission of the New Hampshire Farm Museum is to preserve, present, and carry forward New Hampshire’s rural and agricultural heritage.”

June Workshops for Educators: Growing Up WILD

Educators wanting to introduce their students to hands-on activities that encourage problem-solving and decision-making skills about the environment they share with wildlife are in-

vited to join the “Growing Up WILD” workshop for an exciting professional development opportunity on Friday, June 28 beginning at 9:30 a.m. This workshop is intended for formal

and non-formal educators of children ages 3 to 7. Participants will discover hands-on activities to bring nature, wildlife, and science activities into their curriculum and playtime. All participants will receive the supporting “Growing up WILD” curriculum book.

This 3-hour professional development workshop will be held at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, located at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord.

Event specifics, registration, and additional details may be found on bit.ly/ GrowingUpWILD.

Space is limited.

Growing Up WILD is part of Project WILD, an international conservation and environmental education program developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies that focuses on wildlife and habitat. To learn more, visit www.fishwildlife.org/projectwild.

Life Scouts Donate Nesting Boxes To Conservation Commission

Life Rank Scouts Mack Carpenter and Ryan Long, both from Wolfeboro and Boy Scout Troop 165, have donated wildlife nesting boxes to the Wolfeboro Conservation Commission.

Both individuals earned a merit badge for their project, which included building the nesting boxes from scrap lumber. The larger box is designated for

Wood Ducks, which are very selective about nesting sites. The smaller box is designed for solitary bees and wasps, as these important pollinators use the nests as shelter and egg-laying space.

The Wolfeboro Conservation Commission will place the nesting boxes in strategic locations to benefit the ducks and bees.

Life Rank Scouts Mack Carpenter (l) and Ryan Long (r)

The NASWA Resort Is Central Part Of Motorcycle Week

By Thomas P. Caldwell

The 101st Laconia Motorcycle Week runs June 8 - 16 this year, and other than the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association itself, the entity most closely associated with the annual event is the NASWA Resort. Not only does the NASWA kick off the nine-day event with the Peter Makris Memorial Run on Saturday, June 8, it has special activities all week long, with live music at the beachfront NazBar & Grill and Late Night at the Blue Bistro.

The 18th annual Peter Makris Memorial Run is a fundraiser for the Laconia Fire Department’s Life Saving Fund and its rescue boats; the Easter Seals’ Veterans Count program that serves the active-duty military, veterans, and families; the Lakes Region Community Emergency Response Team; the Belknap House, a homeless shelter for families; the New Hampshire Veterans’ Home in Tilton; and Building Dreams For Marines, a non-profit group that retrofits the homes of veterans with combat-related mobility issues to make them more accessible by building interior and exterior ramps, renovating kitchens, bedrooms, and baths, widening doorways and hallways, and installing such things as grab bars, swingaway hinges, and fixtures such as sinks, cabinets, toilets, and roll-in showers.

Cynthia Makris, Peter’s daughter, serves as vice-chair of the Lakes Region Chapter of Veterans Count, a program offering case management and emergency financial assistance to service members, veterans, and their fami-

lies. The Peter Makris Run has donated more than $500,000 to Veterans Count over the years.

The Peter Makris Memorial Run was established in June 2007 in the wake of Peter’s untimely death following a tough illness. His family and friends created the memorial run as a lasting tribute to celebrate his life and his love for both motorcycling and the Laconia community.

The event begins with continental breakfast and registration at the NASWA Resort between 8 and 9:30 a.m., where participants gather to pay their respects and share stories of their experiences with Peter. The riders will receive a wrist band, pin, and a chip for a free beer “on Peter”.

“The atmosphere is one of celebration, camaraderie, and a shared passion

for motorcycles and the open road,” Cynthia said.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. with a Blessing of the Bikes across the street in the NASWA parking lot on Weirs Boulevard.

Kickstands go up at 10:30 a.m. for a ride around Lake Winnipesaukee, with no traffic, thanks to the escort of state and local police. The scenic ride takes participants through picturesque landscapes, wending through the small towns and along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. For the past few years, the ride has included a chance to go around the Loudon NASCAR track at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The route, Cynthia says, “is carefully selected to showcase the natural beauty of the region and serves as a fitting backdrop for this tribute.”

There will be an after-ride party, beginning at 12:30 p.m., at the NazBar & Grill, featuring a gourmet lunch — “A Kick Ass BBQ Buffet” — prepared by Boston Celebrity Chef Anthony Ambrose. There also will be a 50/50 raffle and live music by the James Montgomery Band.

Last year’s run attracted a record 420 riders, raising more than $575,000 for the charities.

“What sets the Peter Makris Memorial Run apart is the palpable sense of camaraderie and unity that permeates the event,” Cynthia said. “Riders from various backgrounds come together, led first by the NH State and local police and by the U.S. Marine Corps Leathernecks, of which Peter Makris was a member, forming bonds and friendships forged through a mutual love for riding. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of brotherhood that lies at the heart of the motorcycling community.”

Other Motorcycle Week activities at the NASWA Resort include the NazBar Tattoo Contest on Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m. Winners in each category, male and female and Best of Show, will receive a trophy.

Peter is the son-in-law of NASWA founders Jim and Fannie Salta, marrying their daughter, Hope. He was an attorney and a community leader and was instrumental in bringing businesses together to purchase the Laconia Fire Department’s first water rescue boat.

•Naswa continued on page 21

for sale by owner

The Duck (DUKW) boat is a six-wheel drive amphibious modified 2 ½ ton truck that was originally used by the US military in World War ll. Designed in partnership between GMC and Sparkman & Stephens, they were used to transport goods and troops over land and water. Though they were intended to only last as long as the demands of combat they have found a popular use in tourism during the post-war era.This highly desirable Duck Boat is a true 1944 WWll survivor that has been given a second life. This “stretch boat” was built in Hawaii, then found its way to Key West before ending up in New England. This Duck Boat is Coast Guard verified and had an original public cost of $140k. While Duck Boats are not able to make highway speeds, this Duck Boat can reach up to 35 mph, from the power provided by the 6.2-liter GM Diesel motor that is mated to a Turbo 350 transmission, with a redesigned full cooling system that includes two large custom aluminum radiators. For more information call 603-520-1002.

•Naswa continued from page 20

Jim and Fannie Salta were immigrants from Lesbos, Greece, and they purchased the original property in 1935 after discovering that it had a natural spring with water that tested 100 percent pure. They established the business as the Natural Spring Water Company — the basis for the NASWA name. Their general store also sold homemade baked beans cooked in an outdoor oven.

Acting upon their customers’ questions about where they could find a place to stay while visiting the area, they built five one-room cabins — the NASWA Spring Water Cabins. During the 1940s, they purchased the waterfront property, and in the 1950s, Peter built the cottages that exist today.

According to the NASWA’s website, “Decades later, when Laconia’s tourists and traffic increased and the NASWA’s visible roadside location attracted many visitors, the name changed to the

NASWA Motor Inn. As the resort added more food, entertainment, and features, it again outgrew its name and became The NASWA Resort.”

The business would add docks, kayaks, paddle boats, and the S.S. NASWA, a 34-foot Sea Ray Amberjack boat, while offering fine dining in the Blue Bistro and casual dining at the NazBar & Grill. Today, there is a large waterfront building and the NASWA is known as Laconia Motorcycle Week’s Official Hotel.

This past May, the New Hampshire Tourism Summit presented its Dick Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award to Hope Makris, who has worked in tourism for 89 years and remains the NASWA’s owner.

Those looking to stay at the NASWA Resort will find the hotel to be pet-friendly, with certain rooms set aside for guests with pets, as long as they observe certain protocols, such as having dogs on leashes when not in the rooms, and not bring them into public areas unless they are guide dogs.

Brake For Moose: It Could Save Your Life

Remember to brake for moose when traveling on New Hampshire’s roadways. There were 45 collisions between moose and vehicles in New Hampshire in 2023; in the last five years, the state has averaged 68 collisions annually.

While moose are active throughout the year, May through October are high-risk months for collisions because moose venture onto roadways to consume the remaining salt residue from winter surface treatments.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works diligently to increase awareness of the danger of moose and vehicle collisions.

“Moose are an iconic species and a tremendous resource of our state, but it can be dangerous to encounter them on the road,” said New Hampshire Fish and Game Moose Project Leader Henry Jones. “By following a few simple rules, motorists can greatly reduce their chance of a moose–vehicle collision or

the severity of personal injury if they do hit a moose.”

While collisions can happen at any time of day, most occur at dusk and at night because moose are dark brown, making them hard to see against pavement. Do not depend on “eye shine” (reflected light from headlights) to alert you to a moose’s presence; moose don’t always look at an approaching vehicle. To reduce the chance of a collision (or the severity of occupant injury if a moose is hit): do not drive at high speeds, wear your seatbelt, scan the sides of the road, be able to stop within headlight zone, and use high beams whenever possible.

If you see a moose, slow down, or stop if necessary, until you have passed it, or it has left the road. “Brake for Moose—It Could Save Your Life!” Learn more at www.wildlife.nh.gov/ wildlife-and-habitat/moose-new-hampshire/brake-moose.

Riding The Rail, Walking The Trail

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Photos courtesy Cotton Valley Trail Committee

In the 1880s tourists were coming to the Wolfeboro area using the quickest mode of travel: the train. At the Cotton Valley Station near Wolfeboro, passengers could disembark to stretch their legs, stay over at the Cotton Tavern, or take the stagecoach to Dartmouth. At the site was the Fernald Station with a full-time agent and a freight building. It wasn’t a particularly large station, but it served the area quite well.

When the trains eventually ceased operation, the station sat empty for a time but is now repaired and used by the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club (CVRTC). The club operates from the station for monthly meetings, equipment to maintain the rail line, and is used for their annual event when the public can take rides on the motorized rail cars at the site.

The event is designed to give the public an opportunity to meet with Rail Trail Club members to discover more about railroad preservation and the railroad motorcar hobby. Visitors are invited to tour the restored former Wolfeboro Railroad engine house, train station, and working railroad maintenance of way equipment. Free rides are provided in member-owned railroad motorcars on a section of the former Wolfeboro Railroad.

CVRTC, a member organization founded in 1991, along with the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails, the Cot-

ton Valley Trail Club, Inc., and two snowmobile clubs, currently maintain the 12-mile rail line, which is designated as a “rail with trail corridor” where walkers, bikers, motorized cars, and snowmobilers can equally enjoy access to the stunning scenery of the Lakes Region.

The trail is also the focus for the Cotton Valley Trail Committee, Inc. (CVTC), which began in 1992. Historically, the Wolfeboro Pathways Committee considered developing a pathway along the corridor from Wolfeboro Falls through Brookfield to Sanbornville. There was an interest by all three communities for a cooperative effort to convert the corridor into a multiuse recreation and travel pathway. The

Trails, Rails, Action Committee was born and eventually became the Cotton Valley Trail Club, Inc. It received state permission to use the rail line around the same time as the CVRTC. The railroad hobbyists wanted to use the line for their motorized railcars between Wolfeboro and Wakefield.

The Rail Club has been instrumental in maintaining the tracks, while the Trail Committee maintains the trail, and volunteers work tirelessly so the tracks can be used for bicycles, pedestrians, and the motorized rail cars. The two groups work together for the multiuse trail. Train history, train stations, and the old rail cars are fascinating for many people, and the Rail Trail Club has about 112 members with the Rail

Trail Committee numbering around 100 volunteers.

“Maintaining the stone dust trail is a challenge,” according to Noreen McDonald, CVTC President. Weather is the biggest challenge from downed trees (over 1,000 in April) that fall onto the trail/tracks, and washouts due to rain. “The Cotton Valley Trail Committee members put in on average about 1,400 hours a year in trail maintenance. We keep up with stone dust, deal with gopher holes, and keep the trail smooth, trimming back bushes and painting crosswalks and arrows. Tree trimming requires certified chain saw operators,” says McDonald. CVTC has 30 individuals who have adopted sections along the trail. The trail is 12 miles long and runs from Wakefield to Wolfeboro, with the Cotton Valley Station being the halfway point.

Presently, the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Committee borrows a small space in a barn at the three-mile mark on the trail for a gator and trailer. The Committee needs its own storage facility, and recently discovered an old building that is the right building in the right location.

“An abandoned fishing shack was originally located at Point Breeze in the Wolfeboro area,” says McDonald. “About 40 years ago a group of volunteers moved the building to its present location at Cotton Valley. The goal is to

• Rail Trail continued on page 23

Families enjoying a ride on a rail car via the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club.

repair the building for Committee storage and to provide benches so that trail users have a spot to rest. The building is located exactly at a halfway point on the trail, with six miles on either side.”

This past winter, the chief of the NH Bureau of Trails gave the CVTC permission to utilize the abandoned building. Shortly thereafter, Josh Howell, Architect & Designer, donated the renderings and plans needed for renovation. The building upgrades began in early May through the generosity of the Fiske Family Foundation, which provided a $5,000 matching grant. In less than six weeks, CVTC was able to match that grant through in-kind and cash donations. With these funds, CVTC hired a contractor to provide guidance/expertise to the volunteer Building Committee; volunteers raised the building, and a concrete floor will be poured in the coming weeks. When the building is eventually lowered, work days are planned to scrape, sand, and stain the building.

When enough funds are in hand, the next step will be to purchase and install a metal roof, four windows, a solar lighting system as no electrical service is available, a front deck, and an overhang with gingerbread trim so the theme of the building is similar to the other Trail railroad buildings. When finished, the former fishing shack will be a beautiful little building and a fine example of the days when trains ran through the area on a regular basis and stations were needed along the way.

Train enthusiasts will appreciate the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club, with some of its members taking to the rails whenever possible in their rail cars.

“The rail cars are all privately owned,” explains McDonald, who is also a member of the Club and President of the Trail Committee. Club members purchased their cars and have completely retrofitted them. They run the rail cars as a hobby. There are members as far away as New York and Rhode Island and the club meets the third Saturday of each month.” Interested folks are always welcome to stop by.

Some of the club members have owned rail cars for over 30 years and everyone learns from other club members when it comes to the upkeep of their rail cars. When searching for rail cars, members respond to “for sale” ads from all over the United States as well as by scouting junkyards and old car lots.

Historically, rail cars were used when train track repairs were needed. The little cars were handy due to their small size and ability to move off the tracks when a train might go by. Sometimes the rail cars would have wagons traveling behind them with a load of equipment needed to repair a portion of track. “The rail cars have been around since the start of the railroad. In the early days, they were called Jenny cars and were hand-pumped,” McDonald remarks. She adds, “The rail cars can go up to 40 mph and also very slow as needed.”

On Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club will host an annual open house.

At no cost, the public is invited to learn about the motorized train cars and to have the unique experience of taking a ride in one of the small gas-powered vehicles. It is an unforgettable experience, and McDonald says parents and grandparents are eager to bring children so they too can have a taste of the days when the trains ran regularly in the area.

For those who like to walk or ride a bike or run, the work of the Cotton Valley Trail Committee is appreciated.

The trail is beautiful and a joy to be on, thanks to the constant efforts of the Trail Committee and the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club.

Soon, the charming former fishing shack will be another part of the trail experience and a way to salute the days when the trains ran throughout the state. To learn more, visit www.cottonvalleyrailtrail.org or www.cottonvalley. org. Volunteers are welcome to help maintain the trail, tracks, to make building repairs, and provide donations.

Second Annual Meredith On- Canvas, A ‘Plein Air’ Event

Organized in conjunction with the Greater Meredith Program, the second annual Meredith- On - Canvas will be held on the first Saturday in June, July and August. Rain dates will be the second Saturday of each month.

“Plein Air” painting is of or relating to painting in outdoor daylight, a branch of impressionism. Use the Do

-The - Loop map to watch talented artists create artworks from life featuring the sights in and around the town of Meredith and Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.

For more information, visit greatermeredith.org/meredith-on-canvas/ or the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/meredithoncanvas

CLC Offers ‘Wonders Of Wetlands’ Walk June 15

Join the Chocorua Land Conservancy (CLC) to explore where water land and water meet. On Saturday, June 15, from 8 to 10:30 a.m., Naturalist Lynne Flaccus will lead a “Wonders of Wetlands” walk. Lynne has a lifetime of experience in land conservation and stewardship, managing protected properties, studying wildlife, and educating adults and children.

The Chocorua River flows through

numerous wetlands from the mountain to Chocorua Lake. This walk will examine the community of plants and animals in this nutrient-poor and acidic habitat. Apply your senses and observation skills as we investigate the wetlands which absorb flood waters and filter sediments for a diversity of animals. In among the moss and sedges, insectivorous plants like sundew, bladderwort, and pitcher plants thrive. Alder,

winterberry, and various heaths add color, texture, and scents to the wideopen spaces of the wetland. Dragonflies, butterflies, phantom craneflies, and other insects make their home in the wetlands, where there is plenty of food and space to lay eggs. Songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and great blue herons also either make their home in the wetland or along its margins. Bring rubber boots (knee-high is

fine), or shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Accessing the river is an easy walk (feel free to have extra shoes for walking down and back), but the majority of time will be spent at the wetlands location.

Plan for bugs, and ticks, and bring sun protection, a snack, and a water bottle. Children ages 6 and up are welcome with an adult. This event is free for CLC members and kids, and $10

Deposit Wildlife Bait Applications In Drop Box At Fish and Game Headquarters

For the convenience of those applying for permits to bait wildlife, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has established a deposit box located in front of its main entrance at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord. The dropbox is intended to collect application materials from the public including baiting permits, which may have been personally hand-delivered to the Law Enforcement Division in previous years.

Permits to bait wildlife are required

in the Granite State to hunt bear, deer, or take any other wildlife over bait, including for lands that are state-owned or state-managed, as well as for privately owned property.

Completed applications to bait on state-owned or state-managed lands, which includes federally managed lands, may be left in the dropbox from Monday, June 3 through Monday, August 5.

Applications may also be mailed,

postmarked between same dates, and sent to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Law Enforcement Division, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. Completed applications must include the baiting permit and a USGS topographical map of the location to be baited.

Permits to bait bear on private property must be postmarked or received by Monday, August 5 to be accepted, while permits to bait deer and all oth-

er species on private property must be postmarked or received by Monday, October 7 of this year.

To learn more about baiting in New Hampshire visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/ hunting-nh/wildlife-baiting.

Those interested in applying for a Permit to Bait Wildlife can print the form by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/ sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/inline-images/permit-to-bait-wildlife.pdf.

Author Talk June 22 At Nichols Memorial Library

Meet children’s author Matt Forrest Esenwine on Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m. at the Nichols Memorial Library in Center Harbor. This event is free and open to the public.

Learn about stargazing as Matt reads his book The Thing to Remember about Stargazing and shares his inspiration for writing the book. A constellation craft session for children will follow the presentation. Remember, too, that the Stargazers

StoryWalk® featuring this book will be available on the library’s side lawn all summer long for self-guided reading walks. This Author Talk and StoryWalk® were made possible by the good people at Meredith Village Savings Bank.

For more information, contact the Nichols Memorial Library at 603-2536950, centerharborlibrary@gmail.com, or visit them at 35 Plymouth Street.

Support Makers Mill June 11 & 12 For NH Gives

Makers Mill stands as a testament that small initiatives can yield monumental impacts. The creativity hub located at 23 Bay St. in Wolfeboro, offers opportunities for community advocacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.

In its first year alone, Makers Mill hosted hundreds of classes from woodworking, machining, metalsmithing and jewelry making, weaving, embroidery, mending, upcycling, digital design, leather working, watercolor, paper craft, abstract acrylic art, 3D printing, welding, stained glass, robotics and electronics, and much more.

NH Gives, hosted by the NH Center for Nonprofits, is the state’s largest day of giving. It unites hundreds of nonprofits and thousands of donors to raise money and awareness for New Hampshire’s nonprofit sector.

Beginning Tuesday, June 11 at 5 p.m. and ending exactly 24 hours later, the NH Gives event lets Granite Staters

support those nonprofits that benefit their communities. The public is encouraged to help Makers Mill reach its goal as it embarks upon phase two of construction.

“This first year’s success has also meant that we’ve come up against the limitations of our facility faster than we thought, meaning we need to finish the renovation job we started,” says Josh Arnold, executive director of Makers Mill.

Phase Two is necessary for improved safety, technology upgrades, and accessibility improvements.

By achieving this goal during the 24hour donation drive, Makers Mill can meet the growing demand for future vocational training and career-building opportunities.

For more information, call 603-5691500 or email info@makersmill.org. Visit www.nhgives.org/organizations/makersmill to donate.

Lake Winnipesaukee Association Awarded Grants

The Lake Winnipesaukee Association (LWA) has been awarded $650,000 in federal grants, complimenting the group’s work to safeguard and improve water quality in Lake Winnipesaukee. These grants represent the organization’s largest awards to date, arriving at a crucial moment for lake protection.

To match the federal grants, LWA needs at least $150,000 in new funding and has launched a fundraising campaign to increase membership support and garner local donations. “We are counting on people and businesses who value Lake Winnipesaukee’s clean water to help us reach our goal,” said Board Chair Peter Glick of Tuftonboro. These collective resources will help in the development of a comprehensive

plan for the lake, helping to pinpoint sources of phosphorus and other harmful pollutants threatening water quality across the watershed. Excessive levels of phosphorus have been linked to cyanobacteria blooms, an increasing health threat around the lake during summer. The major sources of phosphorus reaching the lake are from polluted stormwater runoff, erosion, fertilizer use, septic systems, and more.

“EPA’s grant will help the Lake Winnipesaukee Association address the threats that imperil Lake Winnipesaukee’s water quality,” said Pat Tarpey, LWA’s President. “If we don’t take steps to protect this resource right now, we risk seeing the lake’s water quality continue to decline which in turn will

threaten the economy of the region.”

LWA is currently partnering with the Town of Wolfeboro on a watershed-based plan for Wolfeboro Bay, and will work with shorefront communities to develop and promote sustainable land use practices that protect watershed resources.

The Lake Winnipesaukee Associa-

tion is a non-profit environmental group dedicated to protecting Lake Winnipesaukee’s water quality and natural resources through monitoring, education, stewardship, and using science-based action and advocacy for responsible lake management. For more information contact LWA at www.winnipesaukee.org or call 603-581-6632. www.thelaker.com

Volunteers assemble at Makers Mill, celebrating its opening and preparing for Phase Two of construction, which is needed for safety, access, and technology upgrades to meet growing demand. All donations given during NH Gives will be

Outdoor Concerts…And A Lot More

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

There is nothing quite so special as live music at an outdoor concert with the summer sun setting over Lake Winnipesaukee. The music, the crowd of concert lovers, and maybe an ice cream cone or other treat make for a perfect evening.

The free outdoor summer concerts in Alton Bay are beloved and many look forward to the schedule of musical acts that come to the bandstand each summer. The bandstand, located alongside Rt. 11, sits near the water in the Bay area, among restaurants and other shops. Other area enjoyment includes a pretty boardwalk beside the lake where you can watch boats come and go and get a look at the old-time water bandstand.

Concertgoers are invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy music by the lake with concerts running from 7 to 9 p.m.,

coordinated and presented by Alton Parks and Recreation. In the event of inclement weather, decisions to cancel will be announced by 2 p.m. on the day of the concert on the Parks and Recreation Facebook page and the Town of Alton website calendar.

The season of concerts kicks off on Wednesday, July 3 with a special show featuring the Thursday Afternoon Band. Playing classical and modern rock, the group will entertain and be followed with fireworks after the show. The combination of fireworks and a great concert will make for a festive evening to celebrate the Fourth of July in the Lakes Region. The band’s Facebook page states they are a collection of musicians who get together to play and practice on Thursday afternoons.

The show continues Saturday, July 6 with Sax Roxx, a classic rock band with brass. The band’s website (www.

saxxroxx.com) states, “We are made up of seasoned musicians from southeastern NH focusing on the music you love to dance to – classic rock and pop from the 60s to the 90s – and harmonies to catch your attention. We subscribe to the philosophy ‘If it’s not fun, why do it?’”

Coming up on July 13, The Visitors will be at the bandstand to bring great music to the audience.

Following on July 20 the band has yet to be determined; check back at www. alton.nh.gov or call 603-875-0109 for updates.

On July 27, Chris Bonoli will offer soft rock, country, and classic electric blues to please the audience. Bonoli relates, “Country swing, old country, swing tunes of the 1930s, 40s, and Big

Bands always captivated me. I connect with bluegrass, jazz, and gospel.”

The music continues on August 3 with Echo Tones rock and roll. Bittersweet follows on August 10 with classic rock music, with a fireworks display after the show.

On August 17, the EZ Band with classics will perform, and Saxx Roxx will take the stage on August 24. The season winds down on August 31 with Got It Covered Band playing cover songs and bringing lots of energy.

The town of Alton has many summertime events for all ages. On Thursday, June 20, National Yard Games Day from 3 to 4:30 p.m. will be held at the • Alton continued on page 27

• Alton continued from page 26

Alton Bay gazebo on Rt. 11. The free event celebrates the first day of summer with games such as Ladder Ball, Corn Hole, Spike Ball, Kan Jam, and more. There will also be music and even freezer pops!

On Wednesday, July 3 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., bring the family for the Family Scavenger Hunt event with headquarters at the Alton Bay gazebo on Rt. 11. Gather family and friends and use your creative skills to search for items and answer questions around Alton Bay. Prizes will be awarded.

Also on July 3, from 1 to 2 p.m., enjoy Freezer Pops and Chalk at the gazebo in Alton Bay for fun in the sun as everyone will enjoy freezer pops, outdoor games, music, and chalk drawings on the sidewalk. All ages are welcome to the free event.

A fireworks display will be offered on July 3 at 9 p.m. off a barge in Alton Bay. Bring a chair and grab a spot on the lawn or come by boat for this spectacular event. The rain date is July 5.

If you love a sing-along and a roaring fire, head to Alton Bay for a Beach Bonfire and Sing-Along on Friday, July 5 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Alton Public Beach in Alton Bay. On site will be John Irish offering guitar accompanying to your songs. The family-friendly event is free; bring a chair or blanket and partake in music and s’mores.

The biggest event of the summer in Alton is the Alton Old Home Week schedule of happenings in August. The

festivities kick off with the Alton Old Home Week 5K Road Race on Saturday, August 10 at 9 a.m. The race headquarters will be at the Alton Bay Bandstand. The race will have computerized timing along a scenic, slightly varying USATF-certified course through Alton. The event will have individual awards, team prizes, post-race refreshments, and raffles. Registration forms are available through Alton Parks and Recreation, or at www.runsignup.com/ Race/NH/Alton/AltonOldHomeWeek5KRoadRace.

The Alton Old Home Week Craft Fair will be held on August 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on August 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 30 vendors will be at the Alton Bay Community Center and Railroad Square Park offering handmade New England craft items, including jewelry, pet treats and toys, food products, skincare, soaps, candles, pottery, fine wood crafts, and more.

What’s an Old Home Day celebration without fireworks? Alton Bay will present a fireworks show on Saturday, August 10 at 9 p.m. with a rain date of August 11 at 9 p.m.

A Cribbage Tournament will be held on Sunday, August 11 at 1 p.m. at the Alton Bay bandstand.

More Alton Old Home Day events are being scheduled; call 603-8750109 for updates.

Each year a wonderful waterski display is held in Alton Bay and this year’s show will be on Saturday, August 24 at 3 p.m. Find a spot in Alton Bay with a view of the water and watch a spectacular water ski show sponsored by the

Alton Bay Water Bandstand Committee. The rain date will be Sunday, August 25 at 3 p.m.

Get outdoors for a kayak paddle trip on Friday, June 28 at 10 a.m. and again on August 2 at 10 a.m. along the Merrymeeting River. During the free event, check out the wildlife habitats, animals, and beautiful scenery along the river. The trip will be approximately 90 minutes and is geared toward those who have paddled before. Participants provide their own equipment, including a life jacket. Meet at the boat launch by Johnson’s Rte. 11. Pre-register by June

26 and July 31. Call Parks and Recreation at 603-875-0109 for details.

Many more public events will be happening this summer via Alton Parks and Recreation. From outdoor concerts to hiking to Old Home Day and much more, be sure to check out the full array of events.

No matter what you choose, plan to get on your dancing shoes and be there for the Alton Bay Summer Concert Series. Visit www.alton.nh.gov for information.

Meredith Sculpture Walk Available For Residents And Visitors

Sponsored by the Greater Meredith Program, the Meredith Sculpture Walk (MSW) is committed to developing awareness and enjoyment of public art for residents and visitors alike. Enjoy this year-round, outdoor, juried exhibition featuring works by northeast artists.

This marks the eleventh year for the Sculpture Walk. Enjoy the thirty-two works positioned in high visibility areas

Chairman of the Meredith Sculpture Walk, Bev Lapham, supervises as members of the MSW Ground Team prepare for 2024-25 Sculpture Walk.

along Main Street, on the grounds of the Mill Falls complex, and in the Hesky and Scenic Lakeside Parks.

Comprised of volunteers, the MSW Ground Team will help artists install fourteen new sculptures by early July. New brochures with a walking map will be made available soon thereafter. For more information visit www.greatermeredith.org.

Lance Keene’s Home Will Be His Castle

By Thomas P. Caldwell

Laconia native Lance Keene has taken the idea that a man’s home is his castle quite literally, and has spent nearly a quarter of a century building a castle of his own design on a mountaintop in Campton. Taking on the job with no background in home construction — he owns a million-dollar computer software consulting company — he chose the features he liked best from European castles and, using design software, built them into a schematic that he continues to adjust as the project comes together.

“I am a science nerd and I’m also an artist,” Lance says. “This is my lifelong art project, and I think I know why people think it’s so insane. I do everything through an artist’s lens. I love the concept of the convergence of science and art.”

Lance designed the castle entrance after France’s 16th century Château de Vigny, with twin towers on either side of an entry door that he plans to build with a weathered look and “very ornate” hinges.

The idea of building a castle actually came to Lance in 1998 when he took part in business strategist Tony Robbins’ goal-setting workshop.

“I set 3 goals,” Lance writes on his website, www.keenecastle.com: “1. Move back to New Hampshire, 2. Marry the woman of my dreams & start a family, 3. Build my dream home, a castle.”

As a climate change activist, he wanted to build an off-the-grid castle relying on its own energy sources: a large photovoltaic solar array, a small wind turbine, Tesla Solar Roof tiles that generate electricity, a smart house with computer-controlled power systems, Tesla Powerwall battery storage, enough generating capacity to power an electric car, geothermal heating and cooling with radiant heat floors, and a

solar hot water heater to augment the geothermal.

Turning a design into a real castle is not an easy task. After the computer work that lays out what he wants — kitchen, dining room, living room, bedrooms, home theater, exercise room, a three-story spiral staircase, and terraces — he passes the design to an architect in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to render professional drawings.

Why Rio? “I can hire a top-notch architect in Brazil for $16 an hour, whereas one here would cost $150 an hour,” Lance candidly admits.

Those drawings provide the accuracy a builder would need, but the Brazilian architect does not know New Hampshire building codes, and is not a structural engineer.

“So the drawings come back to me, then I send them to my structural engineer in Waterville Valley, who is a licensed guy who does charge $150 an hour. But he tells me how much rebar to use, how thick my beams need to be, spacing of my floor joists, all that stuff. I just had him calculate the snow load for the roof because the beams that are

going to be up there have to be even beefier than the ones down below.”

Before the work on the castle could begin, Lance had to address the steep slope of the mountain. He built a series of terraces with retaining walls, originally driving up from Massachusetts on weekends when he could get away to do the stonework. Once he was living in New Hampshire again, he could spend more time, but it was a big task, requiring the drilling of 900 holes into the granite.

“This whole wall took about 10 years, but that was all I was working on,” he said.

It was not until 2018 that he could begin working on the castle itself.

Insulated walls are one of the castle’s key features. Lance is using Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms which are blocks with two layers of styrofoam separated by a web of hard plastic. The blocks are attached Lego-style and concrete will be poured down the center.

“I will tell you,” Lance jokes, “the next castle I build is not going to have anything round — nothing. Round is evil. It costs four times as much, takes four times as long, and it’s four times as difficult.”

Machines have helped ease the back-breaking work, but there have been mishaps. Lance was using an excavator to clear a spot for a small garden near the hillside terraces in 2017 when he decided to use it to get rid of an unsightly stump near the wall.

“On the way back, I slid off the cliff, landed upside down in a tree,” Lance recalled. “That tree saved me from going all 100 feet down.”

He was able to crawl out through the shattered windows of the excavator and had to hire a towing company to pull the machine back up the cliff. Lance joked that it cost $4,000 to tow and repair the excavator, and he got just four tomatoes from his garden.

“So each one of those were $1,000 tomatoes,” he said. “After that, I stopped gardening. I just buy my tomatoes at the supermarket now.”

He has had close calls from brakes failing on his dump truck and breakdowns with other equipment.

“Dealing with machines that break down all the time, that part’s not fun,” he says. However, “This project is so big that, if something doesn’t show up on time or you run out of material or a machine breaks, you just change gears and go do something different, just to keep the ball rolling.”

Lance and his family — he did marry the woman of his dreams and start a family as outlined in his goal-setting workshop — have done as much of the work themselves as possible, hiring help as necessary along the way. This year, he plans to put up the second-floor walls; next year, the flat roof portions, “but not the spires”, he said.

“As you go up, you’ll put in a piece of rebar,” Lance said, “but my structural engineer wants me to have two pieces of rebar because of the high winds up here, so we put a piece of rebar on the bottom one, too, even though the manufacturer doesn’t call for that.”

The result is a reinforced concrete wall with four inches of foam on either side, “so it’s incredibly energy-efficient,” Lance says.

Of course, having a castle with turrets means that many of the walls will be curved, which means slicing one side and bending the block. Mathematical calculations are required to come up with the correct bend, and with the number of blocks needed, one has to be making blocks all day while doing other things.

“In 2026, after 26 years of working on this, we’ll take a building loan,” Lance said, “and hire a professional builder and have them finish it out in one year. They won’t have to do any of the crazy stuff because all the crazy stuff has already been done, like the road and site work” which Lance did himself once he learned how to operate an excavator.

Lance has posted photographs and videos of his progress on the Keene Castle website, including a 26-minute video showing how he created his 3D model of the castle, at www.keenecastle.com/Castle-Design.

Keene Castle under construction. (Courtesy Photo)

Overcome Seasonal Allergies With Simple Tricks

Seasonal allergies crop up at certain times each year, particularly in spring and fall. In 2021, approximately 81 million people in the United States were diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation says between 20 and 25 percent of Canadians suffer from allergic rhinitis.

Tree and grass pollen are notable contributors to allergies, as is mold. Verywell Health says allergies can be worse in certain areas. In the U.S., certain areas of the East Coast have high rates of allergies, while cities on the West Coast tend to be less harsh on those with allergies.

Since allergies can make life uncomfortable, people want to know all they can do to overcome seasonal allergies. These strategies can help.

• Know The Pollen Count. Information is key, and knowing when pollen or mold counts are particularly high can help people take certain steps to avoid allergic reactions.

• Close The Windows.

When pollen levels are high, closing windows to prevent breezes that can bring pollen inside a home can be an effective strategy. You also can utilize a HEPA filter on the home’s air conditioning system.

• Remove Clothes Worn Outdoors.

Shower to rinse pollen off of skin and hair. Hanging clothing to line dry during high pollen counts can cause pollen to stick to freshly laundered items.

• Avoid Gardening

Or Other Outdoor Activities When Pollen Is High. If you must be outdoors, wear a mask.

• Try An Antihistamine Product that will reduce your body’s reaction to the seasonal allergen. WebMD says butterbar as well as a plant-based Phleum

pratense could be natural alternative antihistamine products.

• Use A Nasal Rinse to clean allergens out of your nose. This can help ease congestion and itching. Select sterile saline solutions or carefully follow directions for preparing rinses in neti pots.

• Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays can improve nasal symptoms. Speak with a doctor about how to use these products and how long to use them.

• Consider Allergy Shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy. These shots can help desensitize the body to common allergies by using very small amounts of allergens over time. The immune system will eventually produce a reduced reaction to the allergen.

Allergies can be troublesome. However, various strategies can help to diminish the often unpleasant effects of seasonal allergies.

Great Waters Welcomes Partnership With Eastern Propane

Great Waters Music Festival announces its first Diamond Partnership with long-term sponsor Eastern Propane & Oil. As an avid supporter of music and the arts, Eastern continues to make a difference in several areas of the Lakes Region. As one of New England’s largest energy retailers, Eastern has been a family-owned business for over ninety years and is steadfast in its commitment to supporting local community events and charitable organizations.

“The foundation of Eastern Propane & Oil is family and community.

Without wonderful organizations like Great Waters supporting the arts, future generations would be deprived of the remarkable talents those locally and around the world, graciously share,” said Whitney Cloutier, Eastern Propane & Oil Marketing Manager. “We are proud to enter into this partnership so we can not only enjoy fantastic shows this summer but support those aspiring to continue their education in the arts.”

In 2021, Great Waters entered into an agreement with the Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough to present musical performances in the summer

in a four- hundred-fifty-seat Losberger acoustic tent. In addition to this undercover seating, there is plenty of room for lawn seating in the field across from Shannon Pond. For the past three years, pre-concert receptions have been held in the Eastern Propane & Oil Hospitality Tent next to the main tent.

refreshments, and mingle with other music-loving patrons. We are so grateful to Eastern Propane & Oil for helping us achieve this strategic goal.”

As part of the partnership, Eastern will participate in the Great Waters scholarship program. Local students graduating from both public and private high schools in those towns surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee, and who plan to specialize in some form of theater production, music education, or performance, are eligible to apply. Scholarship awards are also available to college undergraduate and graduate students for the same purpose.

This new Eastern partnership has fueled Great Waters enthusiasm to create new and exciting opportunities for those who attend performances. Located in the recently reimagined hospitality tent, Great Waters is now offering a new membership known as the Cloud Club. This member-only opportunity will include preferred parking, complimentary food and drink, early access to ticket sales, and much more. Joan Myers, Great Waters executive director, is thrilled to offer this new membership to its patrons, “for years, we have known that many of our concertgoers hoped for an opportunity to arrive early, enjoy

For the full performance schedule, or to purchase tickets for these events, visit www.GreatWaters.org. Great Waters is grateful for this elevated sponsorship with Eastern Propane & Oil and the many corporations, businesses, and individuals who make these programs possible.