TheLaker_May_13_2024

Family Farms: Vital in the US and Important in New Hampshire

By Mark Okrant

It may be surprising to some that 97 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States are family-owned. Moreover, a remarkable 88 percent of them are small family farms.

By definition, small farms have a gross cash income of $350,000 or less. Once expenses are subtracted, that does not leave a large sum of money for added expenditures.

The number of US farms peaked at 6.8 million in 1935, then began to fall sharply until the 1970s. Today, the average size of a family farm is 445 acres, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Why is something with so much apparent value being stripped from the country’s landscape? In a word, urbanization. Even today, the American Farmland Trust tells us that an acre of US farmland is converted to development every two minutes. In part, the phenomenon is attributable to the aging of farm and ranch families. All too often, farm husbands and wives are not being replaced by their children, who seek to earn a living in the worlds of business, education, health, and other vocations.

Another factor is the worsening balance between income and expenses — the former is diminishing, while the latter has been rising steadily.

New Hampshire lists 110 family farms, some growing field and tree crops, others focusing on various forms of animal husbandry. Many family farms produce a wide range of products that they make available through a network of supermarkets, farmstands, and restaurants. In the Lakes Region alone, there are fourteen family farms: Moulton Farm in Meredith, Price Family Farm in Gilmanton Iron

Works, Booty Family Farm in Center Sandwich, Beans & Green Farm and Timber Hill Farm in Gilford, Swain Family Farm, Hermit Brook Farm, and Birch Rise Farm in Sanbornton, Huckins Farm in New Hampton, Pork Hill Farm and No-View Farm in Ossipee, Taylor Brothers Farm in Meriden, and the Top of the Hill Farm in Wolfeboro. To get a better understanding of a small family farm operating in the Lakes Region, we interviewed Alan Fredrickson. Alan and his wife, Carolyn, own Top of the Hill Farm on Martin Hill Road in Wolfeboro. Their adult children, Eric and Anna, also play roles in the operation, making this a two-generation family farm. Compared with the huge complexes in this nation’s interior, Top of the Hill’s 108 acres, plus an additional 150 acres leased for haying, comprise a modest-size operation. In thinking about family farms, one may conjure up the image of a solitary farmer driving her/his tractor while plowing acres in preparation for plant-

ing a single crop. That image most certainly does not fit the Fredrickson’s family farm. Despite its size, Top of the Hill Farm is a truly efficient yet complex operation where the primary activity is raising 120 head of beef cattle. About 100 of them are Herefords, a large breed of beef cattle that originated in the West Midlands of England. The remainder are Maine-Anjous of French origin and Angus, a small beef animal originating in northeast Scotland. The Fredricksons have chosen to raise both males and females. They keep two bulls and all of their females for breeding at the Wolfeboro location. All cattle on the farm are bred by artificial insemination, after which the females are put with the bulls. By visiting the farm at most times throughout the year, one will see that

the adult stock remains outdoors where they are fed a mix of top-quality baleage and dry hay that is grown on the leased acreage. During times of exceptional weather, the stock have ready access to shelters. During mud season, all of the stock are confined within fencing to protect cropped fields and pastureland. There is a separate pack barn — a large open resting area with bedding — that protects calves during bad weather. All of the females spend their entire lives at Top of the Hill but, at 18 months of age, all but two of the males are taken to Windham, Maine, for slaughter.

The Fredricksons buy and raise lambs as well as 10 to 12 piglets. They also raise 150 laying hens. Since 2020, when so many lives and businesses were impacted by the COVID pandemic, Top of the Hill Farm has operated a family store on their property, selling all cuts of beef, pork, and lamb, as well as breakfast sausage, bacon, chicken, and eggs. They also sell ground hamburger, cut flowers, and other products from their own farm and neighboring properties, including local maple products, apples and apple cider, berries, butter, cheese, corn, cucumbers, garlic, greens, honey, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, root vegetables, squash, tomatoes, yogurt, and milk that is bottled in Contoocook.

The store is open year-round, seven days per week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about their farm operations or to inquire about the availability of produce at the Top of the Hill Farm Store, call 603-569-3137.

Yesteryear

Women’s Work – Helen Albee, Mary Coolidge, And

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

“On every hand you will find men and women who could be taught some handicraft that would not only be profitable, but a source of great joy and education to the worker.”

From Mountain Playmates by Helen

R. Albee

Helen Albee was an artist and also a Progressive in the late 1800s. Over the

years, she became passionate about elevating women and their creative work in the fiber arts so they could have an income.

Helen and her husband, John Albee, decided to spend summers in Tamworth, surrounded by other area artists and scholars. The Albee’s must have greatly enjoyed their new home and the

Help Wanted 2024 Summer Season

Holderness Harbor is currently seeking motivated individuals who enjoy working in a friendly yet fast paced marina environment. Must be at least 16. Boater’s Safety license preferred but not required. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact us via email through our website holdernessharbor.com under contact us or call 603-968-9001 and leave a message. Positions include Inside Customer Service/Outside Dock and Boat support.

The Arts & Crafts Movement

area because it wasn’t long before they settled permanently in Tamworth. Their home was one of many former farmhouses that had been abandoned when the original occupants moved elsewhere for more financially advantageous lives.

Thus, summer homes were springing up all over the area as wealthy city people made their way north and bought, often for a pittance, former farms. They turned the properties into elegant or rustic summer residences.

Helen found herself surrounded by the wealthy and educated in Tamworth and among them was the Albee’s neighbor philosopher William James. Artists spent their summers capturing White Mountain scenes on canvas while writers crafted stories at their summertime desks.

ponder how to use her talents as an artist to cultivate local talents. She soon settled upon something the local women likely knew how to do: craft hooked rugs. She realized the rugs circulating in the area at the time were utilitarian but not particularly attractive or creative.

Without a definite plan, Helen began looking at the natural world around her to find answers. She would need colorful dyes to make more beautiful rugs, so she experimented with plants and flowers to extract the correct colors for her dyes.

Eventually, she called her new business Abnakee rugs, and her products soon were popular with customers around the country.

Originally from Ohio, Helen went to school to learn art and design at the New York Institute of Artists-Artisans. She must have become aware of arts and crafts while studying and it was at this time that she wanted to bring the skills to rural women. She explained her philosophy, “to emphasize the intrinsic value of hand-work if coupled with beauty and honesty, a value which most persons have quite forgotten, so universal are machine-made things in our market.” Albee and others of her generation wanted a return to handmade items to stave off the faceless age of industrialism where machinery conquered man.

Helen and her husband adored living in the Tamworth area. Given her creativity, she wrote a book, Mountain Playmate, in 1900. In the book, her innocence about an idyllic country life was challenged by a neighbor who chided her for not using her talents to help her neighbors. Of course, Helen was baffled and could not imagine what she might offer to the less fortunate in the area.

After this discussion, Helen began to

Perhaps it was generosity, perhaps a wish to give back to the local women she had retained to make the rugs, but Helen had a vision to promote the products and eventually, should they become sought after, to turn the business and profits over to her workers. She said, in Mountain Playmates, “I do not want to control it. I have been experimenting a few years and have proven that it offers a new form of employment both for the worker and the director of the enterprise. I do not wish to protect it. I should like others to share it.”

Helen had no factory where her local workers made the rugs, but rather she explained, “Workers come, receive materials and instructions; each makes the rug in her own home during her leisure hours, and brings it back when completed.”

Albee was interested in hooked rugs because she had seen many of them in her country neighbor’s homes. Handmade from cast-off clothing, the rugs covered floors in winter, but little thought was given to making them colorful and attractive. Helen set out • Yesteryear

continued on page 5

to change that. She embraced a trend that was popular at the time, a colonial mindset of making arts and crafts. She knew the revival saw craftspeople using, for the first time in generations, hand looms and other materials and methods. She first trained a neighbor’s daughter to make hooked rugs in the Albee method.

Hooking a rug was not particularly difficult and it was mostly re-crafting the patterns to be more interesting and the colors brighter. Making a rug could be done by generations in one family, such as a young girl, her mother, sisters and grandmother. Best of all, the finished rugs brought much needed money to local families.

Who bought the colorful hooked rugs? Often it was city folk, or large Boston stores that could resell the rugs. Either way, the rugs brought money and creativity to New Hampshire’s rural areas.

In order to gain awareness of the rugs, Helen took many of them for exhibit in cities and at events with large groups of people. One such trip took Helen to the 1901 Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, according to “A Profitable Philanthropy”: The Abnakee Rug Industry of Helen Albee of Tamworth” by Cynthia Watkins Richardson. The article appeared in the 2001 Fall/Winter edition of “Historical New Hampshire”, a publication of the New Hampshire Historical Society.

As the Arts and Crafts movement gained in popularity, the public wanted to know more about Helen and her rugs. She had no problem sharing her methods and background. She wrote and produced a booklet titled “Abnakee Rugs: A Manual Describing the Abnakee Industry, the Methods Used with Instructions for Dyeing.” She probably saw the act of sharing how to make hooked rugs and how to dye materials as part of her philosophy of making a living doing something creative and handicraft oriented.

After a lifetime of promoting her beliefs and the craft of rug hooking and trying to bring creativity and income to rural communities, Helen experienced a number of setbacks. The Albee’s beloved Tamworth home burned and not much later, Helen’s husband, John, died in Washington, DC in 1915.

Helen found comfort in returning to Tamworth after having her home rebuilt. Here she could enjoy peace and quiet and the companionship of her country neighbors and friends. She lived simply in Tamworth until her death in 1939, well satisfied that an early conversation and challenge from a neighbor to use her talents as an artist to help the larger world had been accomplished.

It would be remiss not to mention another Tamworth/Sandwich woman who used her influence, funds, and talents to bring arts and crafts and the sale of local products to the area.

Among the first efforts to sell handmade items in the method that would become the League of NH Craftsmen was organized by Mrs. J. Randolph Coolidge (a Sandwich summer resident). According to “League Beginnings in Sandwich”, a talk given by

William C. Greene at the 38th annual meeting of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen in Center Sandwich, NH in 1969, much credit should be given to Mrs. Coolidge for her efforts to bring a rug show to Sandwich under the auspices of the Sandwich Historical Society.

From the first, Mrs. Coolidge saw the value of hooked and braided rugs made by Sandwich area women. She organized an exhibition of locally made rugs and brought an expert from Boston to give a talk on the practical aspects of making and marketing rugs.

The talk got local craftspeople excited and led to the formation of a cooperative venture. What if, these artisans wondered, they pooled their handmade goods and opened a shop in their rural community? The crafts shop was opened in the summer of 1926 for the purpose of selling handicrafts to support the local economy. They may have been impressed with similar efforts by Helen Albee’s homestead women to craft hooked rugs and thought they could do something similar.

As well as opening a shop in the summer of 1926, a tearoom was added to lure travelers and summer vacationers. (At the time, tearooms were what drive-through coffee and donut shops are today.) These little dining establishments offered a place where travelers could sit and enjoy a cup of tea and pastries.

As a precursor to today’s League shops, the Sandwich Home Industries inventory that first season included rugs, embroidery, knitted goods, woodwork, baskets, candles, children’s dresses, and very popular cornhusk doormats. Soon, ironwork, pottery and jewelry were added to the list of locally made crafts.

Printed materials from the early days of the Sandwich shop show many local crafts, including baskets, woodworking and furniture, woven textiles and the hooked and braided rugs that were the original impetus for the shop.

After a successful first season with sales of over $1,000, the newly formed Sandwich Home Industries was offered a building on the Main Street of Sandwich. The shop and a tearoom operated at the spot until the building burned during the Great Fire of 1934.

In 1935, a new building was constructed directly across the village green from the previous location. The charming little shop looked a lot like a modest whitewashed cottage or Cape style home, but it had been designed expressly for the Industries.

In the early days, not every community was so lucky as to have a League shop. By 1935, there were many people interested in the arts and crafts movement in NH. Their focus was to educate the public through craft classes so local townspeople could enjoy working with their hands and also generate extra income. Small shops sprang up wherever there was a space: in the front room of private homes, in a barn during the summer months and anywhere with as a visible spot to offer handmade items for sale.

If Helen Albee were to step forward in time, she would be amazed and gratified that her early efforts to help other artisans brought forth success in abundance.

Excitement Builds For 48th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race

The 48th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race is just around the corner, set to kick off on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the picturesque Albee Beach in Wolfeboro. Presented by the Wolfeboro Lions Club, this legendary event guarantees lots of outdoor excitement for both participants and onlookers.

Registration opens at 10 am, gearing up for the main event at 1:15 pm. The race is a four-mile paddle encompassing a quarter-mile stretch of class 2 white water rapids and two portages. Online registration at https://form. jotform.com/240255158509053 closes on May 15, however, day-of registration is available where cash, check, or credit card payments will be accepted. Keep tabs on all updates via the Wolfeboro Lions Facebook page. Be among the first 50 to sign up to score a complimentary race t-shirt, adding a sweet bonus to your race day

ensemble. The entry fee stands at $30 per paddler.

Got questions? Contact Roger Murray, Race Director, at (603) 569-4697 for all the details on the 48th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race.

About Wolfeboro Lions Club: The Wolfeboro Lions Club is a community-focused organization dedicated to serving the people of the Wolfeboro area. Through various initiatives and events, the club donates to local charities and non-profit groups, as-well-as funding Lions scholarship programs, and assisting those in need of glasses and hearing aids. Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world every day because they share a core belief - to serve their community. The Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race is one of the club’s signature events, bringing together paddlers of all skill levels for a day of fun and fundraising.

League Of NH Craftsmen Meredith Offering May Craft Classes

Located on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee at 279 DW Hwy., the Meredith Fine Craft Gallery Craftsmen encourages, nurtures, and promotes the creation, use, and preservation of fine contemporary and traditional craft through the inspiration and education of artists and the broader community.

Join Lisa Almeida on Saturday, May 18, from 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. to learn the

Basics of Tapestry Weaving. Students will create images with fiber using a simple loom and will weave a tiny tapestry from start to finish.

Join juried artist Bill Mitchell on Sunday, May 19, from 12–5 p.m. for a Screen Printing Basics Class. Students will learn basic techniques including how to paint directly on the screen with Speedball drawing fluid

and Speedball screen filler to create a permanent silkscreen stencil that can be used to print directly on paper or fabric.

Join juried artist Larry Antonuk on Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. for a Basic Turkey Wing Workshop. Students will learn the basic concepts of broom making by making small whisk brooms in a few different styles.

Space is limited in all classes and pre-registration is required. For more information call 603-279-7920 or visit www.meredith.nhcrafts.org/classes/. The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is dedicated to the education and support of fine contemporary and traditional craft through the inspiration and education of artists and the broader community.

Spring Wildflowers: Plant Walk & Knowledge Share May 18

On Saturday, May 18 from 8-10 a.m., join Chocorua Lake Conservancy (CLC) for Spring Wildflowers: Plant Walk & Knowledge Share, with Sky Jowdy and Juno Lamb.

Come investigate spring ephemerals and other plants in the diverse habitats of the Charlotte C. Browne Woods in Chocorua. Practice skills of quiet observation, use nature, and discuss ethical foraging and plant medicine. Dress appropriately for the weather

and wear close-toed shoes or boots. If you like, bring sun and/or bug protection, a water bottle, and snacks, as well as a pencil and a journal or paper. You may want to bring a blanket or pillow to sit on. Free for CLC members and kids; $10 for non-members. Register in advance at chocorualake.org/events to be informed of any changes in the schedule.

Educator at heart, Sky Jowdy promotes intelligent land use and ecologi-

cally sound practices in her work. Sky cultivates resilience into her designs by encouraging biodiversity and integrating native plant species with natural materials.

CLC Communications Director Juno Lamb is a lifelong gardener, former New Hampshire Master Gardener, plant lover, and herbalist in training.

This event is one in a series of Chocorua Lake Conservancy programs held throughout the year.

CLC is a nonprofit land trust founded in 1968 to protect the scenic and natural resources of the Chocorua Lake Basin and surrounding area. For more information or to get involved, visit www.chocorualake.org.

Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre: Enriching Children’s Lives

By Rosalie Triolo

Now in its fifty-second season, the Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre in Wolfeboro was spearheaded by Nathalie Erickson, an innovative and creative elementary school teacher at Wolfeboro’s Carpenter Elementary School who introduced her students to the magical world of theatre. At the time, Tom Lovett, Head of the Summer School Program, together with Ray Lord, Head of the High School Theatre Program, joined Erickson in her new

venture.

The summer program is for children ages 6 -18 years of age and provides the opportunity to learn and participate in all aspects of a theatre production. The program takes learners through the audition process, theatre etiquette, learning lines and lyrics of songs, choreography, blocking (a key component in theatre productions, which allows actors to know exactly where they are to be, and how to get there at any given time), set design, costuming and

INSTALLATION | REMOVAL | REPAIRS

make-up. Identifying with their characters, playing pretend, and stepping into a character’s shoes instills the value of learning from others’ experiences. Theatre students form a bond with others and acquire an appreciation for what it takes to produce a musical. Allowing students to do something creative makes them feel good about themselves and teaches determination. A lifelong skill that if you keep going, success will follow.

is offered the week of July 8th. During that time, the “one-weekers” join fulltime thespians to learn pieces of the show in the midst of production. Parents are welcomed to join at the weeks’ end for a “sneak- peek behind the scenes” to watch those future thespians perform in one of the musical ensemble numbers.

Opening day of the 2024 program is Tuesday, June 25. The program welcomes all current and future thespians from all parts of the country who summer in New Hampshire. Workshops operate Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Kingswood Arts Center, the high school’s state-ofthe-art performance center located at 21 Mc Manus Road. At the conclusion of the workshops, theatre performances will take place Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28.

If busy summer plans or limited vacation time prohibits participation in the full program, a one-week program

Three directors help bring a story of make-believe to life on-stage. The Managing Director oversees all departments, coordinates staffing, works with budgets and schedules, and ensures everything is ready for the performances. Working tandemly with other departments, the Artistic Director coordinates the on-stage presentation and helps thespians with choreography, fine tuning their parts, and blocking. Vocal warm-ups are essential in aiding thespians with their singing performances and the Musical Director teaches them how to project their voices so audiences can better hear the lyrics in the large

• Summer Theatre continued on page 17

Newfound Lake Association Offers May Programs

Now heading toward peak spring migration in North America, many different kinds of animals are on the move. From birds to bats to butterflies, and beyond, some are returning to New Hampshire for the breeding season and others are heading farther north.

Join the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) on May 14 & 18 from 10 a.m. to noon during Newfound Nature Station, a program connecting youth and families to the natural world. Learn about migrations long & short and check out the many birds reappearing after a winter farther south. Plus make a craft to take home. This event will be held at Grey Rocks Conservation Area at 178 N Shore Road in Hebron. This program is free and open to all.

Join the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA), Newfound Land Conservation Partnership (NLCP), and landowners Paul and Mary Hazelton for a guided hike of their conserved land on Friday, May 17 at 9 a.m. The season’s first hike of conserved lands in the Newfound Watershed, this event is dedicated to the memory of Suzanne

Smith who was a firm supporter of conservation in the area.

The Hazelton Farm and Forest along the Cockermouth River in Hebron is conserved for agricultural and forestry use. This moderate hike is approximately three miles. Registration is required and space is limited. Register online for this event at NewfoundLake. org/events or call 603-744-8689.

The NLCP is a collaboration among NLRA, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, the Nature Conservancy, and volunteer representatives from the towns of Hebron, Groton, Bristol, Bridgewater, and Alexandria.

Since 2009, the partnership has promoted land conservation within the Newfound Watershed through education and community outreach, supporting efforts to conserve nearly 8,500 acres.

It is through education, programs, and collaboration that the NLRA promotes the conservation and preservation of the region’s natural, social, and economic resources. Visit newfoundLake.org for more information.

Rt. 11 • Alton Bay

603-875-6363

The best clams, onion rings and burgers on the lake! Enjoy the view from our rooftop deck! Just down the street from the dock.

Old School and Proud of It! Eat A Piece of History - Only at Pop’s!

‘Cue The Grill

Versatile Rhubarb Recipes: Desserts, Sauces, and Pickled

Hello to my Lakes Region foodie friends. Certain growing seasons are short in this neck of the woods. The two that stand out to me the most are fiddleheads and rhubarb. Although night and day from one another, they certainly have a huge following among their lovers. Fiddleheads are usually around for only two weeks, and rhubarb season is usually doubled, depending on the weather. Growing up, my grammy would spend any free time she had foraging for rhubarb, as well as berry picking. She made so many great rhubarb desserts that kept all of us smiling. Rhubarb not only works for desserts, but also makes great sauces and pickled as well for salads. Considering the possibilities, I have a great salad to share, a pork chop meal, and yes, a few desserts, all with rhubarb in the mix.

This salad is as fresh and robust as it is outstanding. The main characters are pickled rhubarb and fresh roasted

beets, finished with an awesome dressing. The rhubarb relish goes together very quickly and should be made in advance, at least one day prior to using. The beets are to be oven roasted, then cooled before peeling and prepping. This recipe is for a gorgeous salad with great flavors that will vibrantly pop. Prep is 20 minutes, cooking time is an hour for the beets, and makes 4-6 salads. The pickled rhubarb is great on sandwiches and steaks, and will make one quart.

Roasted Beet and Pickled Rhubarb Salad

For The Pickled Rhubarb:

12 oz rhubarb

1 ¼ cups distilled white vinegar

⅓ cup sugar

1 ¼ tsp kosher salt

½ tsp whole black peppercorns

1 star-anise pod

3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

For The Salad:

1 lb. medium golden beets (about 3)

5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

3-4 pieces pickled rhubarb or more, thinly sliced on the bias, ½ cup, plus 2 tbsp pickling liquid

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp chopped fresh dill or mint, plus more sprigs or leaves for serving 2-3 heads Little Gem lettuce, or 1-2 small heads Boston or Bibb lettuce (torn into bite-size pieces, about 8 cups)

For the pickled rhubarb, remove the rhubarb peel in alternating ½ inch strips, creating stripes. Cut rhubarb into 4 x ¾ inch pieces. If the stalks are thick, halve or quarter lengthwise, then cut into 4-inch pieces. In a saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, 1/3 cup water, salt, peppercorns, and star anise to a boil. Fill a heatproof quart jar with rhubarb and garlic. Pour boiling liquid in to cover. Let cool completely at room temp. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using and up to 1 month. For the salad, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub the beets. Place on a piece of parchment-lined foil. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil and season with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil tightly and roast until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Rub off skins and discard. Halve beets and cut into ½ inch wedges. For

the dressing, whisk pickling liquid into mustard, then gradually whisk in remaining 4 tbsp oil and dill. Season to taste. Toss lettuce, beets, and pickled rhubarb with 2-3 tbsp dressing. Serve sprinkled with more herbs and drizzled with more dressing and added veggies or other toppings if preferred.

Before we get into some sweet tooth favorites, I have a great and simple pork chop recipe utilizing a rhubarb/ dried cherry sauce which is not only spectacular, but it also goes great with chicken and even haddock and grilled salmon and swordfish. The pork chops are seasoned and can be grilled or cooked in a skillet. The sauce takes 30 minutes, the pork takes 10, and will serve 4 of you lucky eaters. The sauce can be made in advance and refrigerated for one week. If dried cherries aren’t your thing, dried cranberries or golden raisins work well.

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Cherry Sauce

½ cup dried cherries

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp plus 2 tbsp olive oil

½ cup finely chopped onion 8-10 oz rhubarb, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into ½ inch pieces (about 2 cups)

3 tbsp sugar

• ‘Cue the Grill continued on page 11

• ‘Cue the Grill

continued from page 10

Pinch of ground nutmeg

Coarse salt and ground pepper

4 pork loin boneless chops, 6-8 oz each, at least ½ inch thick

In a small bowl, combine cherries with vinegar and ¼ cup hot water. Let stand 10 minutes to soften. In a small saucepan, heat 1 tsp oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 5-7 minutes. Add cherry mixture, rhubarb, and sugar to the saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until rhubarb has softened, 5-8 minutes. Stir in nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat but keep warm by covering it. Generously season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Cook pork, in two batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan, until browned and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Serve topped with warm sauce.

One thing is for sure is that cobblers are one of the most effortless desserts imaginable, and this rhubarb variation is no exception. The filling is made with rhubarb, Granny Smith apples, a hint of ginger and lemon, then crowned with an almond flour-enhanced biscuit-crumb topping and ideally topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Prep time is 30 minutes, cook time is an hour and this will feed 6-8.

Apple Rhubarb Almond Cobbler

For The Filling:

1 ½ lbs rhubarb, cut into 1-inch pieces, about 5 cups

1 lb of tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch pieces, about 2 ½ cups

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

3 tbsp cornstarch

½ tsp grated fresh ginger

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

½ tsp kosher salt

For The Biscuit/Crumb Topping:

1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

¼ cup finely ground almond flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 ¾ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp kosher salt

6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

¾ cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing and serving

¼ tsp pure almond extract (optional)

Sliced almonds and fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine rhubarb, apples, granulated sugar, cornstarch, ginger, lemon juice, and salt. Transfer to a 2 ½ -3-quart baking dish or 9x13-inch baking pan. For the biscuit, whisk together both flours, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add butter. Using your fingers, work it into dry ingredients until the largest pieces are the size of small peas. Add cream and almond extract. Stir with a fork until a soft, sticky dough forms. Scatter in small clumps evenly over fruit in baking dish. Brush dough with cream. Sprinkle with almonds, then the sanding sugar. Bake until cobbler is bubbling in center and biscuits are golden brown, 55-60 minutes. If it’s browning too quickly, tent with foil after about 45 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before serving warm or at room temp, brushed with more cream and/or top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. So Good!

Next, let’s combine raspberries with the rhubarb for this one that we turn into cheesecake dessert squares with a gelee topping. If unaware, gelee is a

jellyfish/jello combo of sorts. The ruby red gelee is a raspberry and rhubarb mixture over a moist cheesecake filling and with a graham cracker crust. This has a great appearance and even a better flavor. Prep/cooking time is slightly over an hour, but like any cheesecake, it needs to refrigerate and set for a few hours, ideally overnight. Yields 20 squares, depending on portion size. Rhubarb Raspberry Cheesecake Squares

1 stick unsalted butter, melted, plus more at room temperature for pan

18 graham-cracker sheets

2 cups plus 2 tbsp sugar

16 oz cream cheese, room temp

½ cup sour cream, room temp

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

Pinch of coarse salt

2 large eggs, room temp, lightly beaten

1 ½ lbs. rhubarb stalks, 5-6 stalks, trimmed and halved lengthwise, the rest chopped, about 1 ¾ cups

6 oz fresh raspberries

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 packet unflavored powdered gelatin, ¼ oz

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang

on long sides. Pulse graham crackers and 2 tbsp sugar in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a bowl and stir in melted butter until combined. Press crumbs into bottom of pan. Bake crust until firm, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 325 degrees. Beat cream cheese and sour cream on medium until smooth. Beat in ¾ cup sugar, then beat in vanilla and salt. Add eggs and beat until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed. Pour mixture into crust, smooth the top. Bake until just set, 2535 minutes until set, turn off oven and crack the oven a few inches and let it sit in there for a half hour. Let cool completely on your kitchen counter then chill until firm, 1 hour. Meanwhile, bring chopped rhubarb, raspberries, ¼ cup sugar, lemon juice, and ¼ cup water to a simmer, covered, in a small pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until rhubarb is softened, about 10 minutes. Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing gently on solids. Skim foam from top of liquid. You should have a little more than 1 cup so add water, if needed. Bring 4 cups water

• ‘Cue the Grill continued on page 12

and remaining 1 cup sugar to a boil in a large straight-sided skillet, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and add rhubarb stalks, in 2 batches if necessary. Simmer until slightly soft, 2-3 minutes. With 2 spatulas, carefully transfer stalks to a paper-tow-

DINING • LIBATIONS

An alluring destination showcasing farm-to-fork, with an old world inspired New England feel.

el-lined rimmed baking sheet and let drain. Arrange 4 rhubarb strips in a parallel fashion on cooled cheesecake, spacing evenly. Cut remaining strips in half lengthwise and fit in empty spaces. Sprinkle gelatin over ¼ cup water and let soften 1 minute. Reheat raspberry syrup until simmering. Stir in the gelatin mixture until dissolved, then gently

Private function room can hold up to 50 people.

pour over rhubarb strips. Refrigerate cake until set, at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Cut into pieces, using a sawing motion to slice through rhubarb layer and wipe knife between each cut. If you read my articles on a somewhat frequent basis, you know my love affair with dessert bars, thanks to my wonderful Gram while growing up. Since rhubarb was a “go to” for her in the springtime, let’s bust out on one of her best dessert bars ever. The duality of the rhubarb and lemon zest is scrumptious, and the sweet and buttery combined with the tartness makes this so darn good. Cold or warm, this dessert will not disappoint. I know the rhubarb season is short, but this can work out great with just about any fruit filling. Prep time is less than a half hour, bake time is about an hour and you can plan on 12-16 bars of pleasure depending on how you cut them.

Rhubarb Crumb Bars

For The Streusel:

6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus room temp butter for pan

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for pan

½ cup packed light-brown sugar

¼ tsp salt

For The Cake:

½ lb rhubarb, cut into ½-inch pieces

1 tbsp light-brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 stick unsalted butter, room temp

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 large eggs

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp fresh grated lemon zest

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Butter and flour parchment and pan, tapping out excess flour. For the streusel whisk together butter, brown sugar, and salt. Add flour and mix with a fork until large crumbs form. Refrigerate until ready to use. For the cake in a medium bowl, combine rhubarb, brown sugar, and ¼ cup flour. In another medium bowl, whisk ¾ cup flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs, one at a time. Put the mixer on low and beat in vanilla, and the zest and juice of the lemon, then flour mixture. Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle with rhubarb and top with streusel. Bake cake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 45-50 minutes. Let cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake from pan and cut into as many squares as you want. You’ll be digging this big time! Well, since can talk every week now, I’ll see you soon. Keep your taste buds happy and as usual, feel free to touch base anytime with any questions or feedback at fenwaysox10@gmail.com

Explore Your Creative Side At The Chocorua ArtWorks Gallery

The workshop schedule at the Chocorua ArtWorks Gallery is packed with opportunities to massage your creative muscles. All workshops are appropriate for beginners as well as those with some experience. Pre-register to secure your place; class sizes are limited.

Create “Majolica Tiles” with local

potter, Mary Jeanne Luckey on Tuesday, May 25 from 9 a.m. - noon. Students will fire a piece and pick it up the following week at the gallery.

On Wednesday, May 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., “Fun With Fabric” will be offered under the direction of experienced fabric artist, Victoria Dworkin. Students will have a finished art piece to take

home that day.

Do diminutive “Yarn Coil Baskets” intrigue you? Sign on with jeweler/artist Martha Koons on Tuesday, June 11, and June 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to construct your little gem.

Join weaver Mary Jenne Luckey for “Market Baskets” on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Learn weaving

techniques to finish a 12” X 8” X 6” traditional and practical basket.

ArtWorks Gallery is located at 132 White Mt. Hwy on Rte. 16 in Chocorua. Visit chocoruaartworks.com or call 603 -323- 8041 for prices and information.

Through May 28, Fitness with Lea, Tuesdays in May, 9 – 9:45 a.m., gentle stretching exercises, all ages welcome, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537. (May 7, 14, 21 and 28)

Through May 28, Loons and New England Waterfowl Exhibit, photography, pastel arts, Lakes Region Art Gallery, Suite 300, 120 Laconia Rd, Tilton, Tilton Tanger Outlets, 603-568-3761.

Through May 31, Tiny Art Show, featuring art by K.A. Brett School students, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thurs.-Mon., ArtWorks Gallery/CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

Through June 15, Farm Tour, 1 p.m., Saturday tour, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, pre-registration: 603-3237591, www.remickmuseum.org.

May 14, Spring Fling Social, 5 – 8 p.m., Highland Mountain Bike Park, Northfield, fun, networking, food, games, music, entrance fee, Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, www.lakesregionchamber.org

May 14 & 18, Nature Station Migration, 10 a.m. – noon, free, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 N. Shore Rd., Hebron, Newfound Lake Region Assoc., 603-744-8689.

May 15, Coffee Hour with a Speaker, 10 - 11 a.m., coffee with Brian Ebner, The Art of Clock Tinkering, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537.

May 15, Fabric Landscape Collage with Cheryl Miller, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., pre-register by May 10, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.

May 15, Guided Hike: Lower Red Hill River Trail, 3 – 5 p.m., join a group hike to look for birds and other wildlife, Squam Lakes Assoc., Holderness, pre-register/info: 603-968-7336, www.squamlakes.org.

May 15, Spring Polliwogs: Birds on the Move, 10 – 11:30 a.m., pre-K with adult program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, adult with child must pre-register/info: 603-366-5695, www. prescottfarm.org

May 15-25, James and the Giant Peach, Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com

May 16, Shape to Form Needle Felting Basics, 10 a.m. – noon, Sandwich Home Industries, 34 Main St., Center Sandwich, class pre-registration: 603-284-6831.

May 16-17, Willow Foraging Basket, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., taught by Dan Brockett, Sanborn Mills Farm, 7097 Sanborn Rd., Loudon, 603-435-7314, www.sanbornmills.org.

May 17, Grand Opening of the NH Farm Museum Country Store, 3 – 7 p.m., open house, meet the crafters, light refreshments, NH Farm Museum,1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org

May 17, Guided Exploration: Watershed Hike, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Newfound Lake Region Assoc. & Newfound Land Conservation Partnership supporters hike through conserved land in the watershed. Free, pre-registration required: 603-7448689, www.newfoundlake.org

May 17, Yellow Brick Road: A Tribute to Elton John, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com

May 17, The Linda Ronstadt Experience, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh. com, 603-536-2551.

May 17, Rock My Soul Spring Concert, 7:30 p.m., spirituals, soul, blues, gospel and more, net proceeds benefit Kids in Need Co-op, First Congregational Church, Wolfeboro, tickets/info: 603-569-1555, www.wolfeboroucc.org..

May 17-19, Blacksmithing Basics, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sanborn Mills Farm, 7097 Sanborn Rd., Loudon, 603-435-7314, www.sanbornmills.org.

May 18, 48th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race, registration: 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., race starts at 1:15 p.m., Allen Albee Beach, Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro, 4 mile race, 10 classes to accommodate paddlers of all abilities, sponsored by Wolfeboro Lions Club, first 50 racers to register get free t-shirts, info: Roger Murray: 603-569-4697.

May 18, Annual Branch River Paddle 2024, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., held at 307 Applebee Rd., Milton Mills, program by Moose Mountain Regional Greenways, register: www.mmrgnh.org., 603-473-2020.

May 18, Card Weaving, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., weaving cloth without a loom, age 16 & up, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register/info: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org

May 18, CSVW Annual Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m., Chapman Sanctuary, 740 Mt. Israel Rd., Center Sandwich, led by biologist Christine Costello, Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods, 603-284-6428, www.chapmansanctuaryvisnywoods.com.

May 18, Family Movie – The Minions, 10 am - noon, popcorn and a movie, Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, 603-476-8895, pre-register: www.moultonboroughlibrary.com

May 18, Foraging and Cooking Wild Dandelions, 1 - 3 p.m., for age 16 & up, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register/info: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org

May 18, Kids Carnival, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., free, games, inflatables, popcorn, snow cones, ladder truck and more, held at Faith Alive, 72 Primrose Drive South, Laconia, 603-273-4147.

May 18, Kindling Creativity with Kenzie Raulin, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Governor Wentworth Arts Council, 83 South Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-273-5976.

May 18, Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra presents Sinatra!, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.

May 18, Literary Walk, 10 a.m., for age 16 & up, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, events, tours, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.

May 18, Old Tyme Farm Day, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., house tour, photos with the horse-drawn stage coach, craft demos and more, NH Farm Museum,1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org

May 18, Second Annual Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser, road race/scavenger hunt, Tenney Mt. Resort, Plymouth, info: 603-969-7271, director@centralnh.org.

May 18, Tapestry Weaving Basics with Lisa Almeida, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., pre-register by May 13, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.

May 18, Vernal Pool Exploration, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., learn about animals dependent on vernal pool wetlands, for age 6 & up, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

May 18, WailOn: A Tribute to Real Country Music, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com

May 18 & 19, Draft Animal: Farm & Garden, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sanborn Mills Farm, 7097 Sanborn Rd., Loudon, 603-435-7314, www.sanbornmills.org.

May 18 & 19, Lakes Region Spring Craft Fair, 5/18: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; 5/19: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., over 90 vendors, rain or shine under canopies, free admission, Tanger Outlets, 120 Laconia Rd., Rt. 3, Tilton, Joyce’s Craft Shows, www.joycescraftshows.com, 603-387-1510.

May 18 – 19, Willow Rope Coil Bowl, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sanborn Mills Farm, 7097 Sanborn Rd., Loudon, 603-435-7314, www.sanbornmills.org.

May 19, 1920s Historic Dance Workshops, 1:30 – 2:30 pm., $10, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd./Rt. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

ONGOING

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

Bad Mom Night, every Thurs., Trenta, 30 Middleton Rd., Wolfeboro, 603-5151068, www.trentanh.com.

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

Canterbury Shaker Village, walking trails, seasonal tours, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org

Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, weekend lunch, reservations required, 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, info.: Effingham.lib.nh.us.

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

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

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

Frank Bolles Nature Reserve, walking trails, off Rt. 16 to Chocorua Lake Rd., Chocorua, www.chocorualake.org.

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, Sundays, 8:45 a.m., 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, info: www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, meets second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., 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

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

Lakes Region Curling Association, fall and winter leagues, matches at Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Center, 390 Pine Hill Rd., Wolfeboro, Sundays 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., 603-569-5639.

Laverack Nature Trail at Hawkins Brook, nature trail on boardwalk, free, trail starts to the left of Meredith Village Savings Bank, Rte. 25, Meredith, 603-2799015.

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.loon.org

Makers Mill, a variety of workshops, classes in arts and crafts 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.

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, 603-2794303, 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.

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

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

Pre-K Story Time, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., Nichols Memorial Library, 35 Plymouth St., Center Harbor, 603-253-6950.

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.

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

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

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

Wolfeboro Table Tennis, meets every Wed. from 4 – 6 p.m., in basement of All Saints Church, Wolfeboro, all skill levels welcome, $5 admission charge each week, info: 603-520-5651.

• Summer Theater

continued from page 8

space.

For those who have completed grades 8 – 12 and who are chosen through the application process, the Group Leadership program is an excellent addition to the older thespian’s experience. These disciples help younger thespians by exhibiting expectations for behavior, helping with art projects, running lines/ lyrics of songs, choreography, and blocking in various rotations throughout the day, all while working on their own roles in the play. Because it is a hands-on learning experience, these volunteer hours qualify for those required by many high schools.

Group Leader meetings are held three times per week to talk through events and scenarios that have happened during the day, and to discuss what has worked to help the applicant group leaders. With the guidance of a

staff member, these meetings are a way of helping and supporting one another along, to help everyone have a rich, informative and the most productive days possible.

Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre remains dedicated “to enriching lives and changing the world by nurturing public appreciation of and participation in the arts by providing opportunities for public performances, leadership training, exhibits, and community education.”

Tickets for this year’s performance of the production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr., a musical based on Roald Dahl’s timeless children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be available for sale in mid-June. More information about the Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre may be found by visiting kingswoodchildrenssummertheatre.org, or by calling 603704-2787.

Wolfeboro Lions Club

The Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race

Sat. May 18, 2024 Albee Beach, Wolfeboro

(Albee Beach Rd. Off Rte. 28)

Registration Begins at 10 am Race Starts at 1:15 pm

$30 per paddler the first 50 participants registered will receive a free t-shirt. Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers in each class

Sponsored By

Richard J. Neal, Jr. DMD

John & Nancy Askew

Okie Dokie Cabins • Molly and Jolly Trolley O Bistro/Inn on Main Kingswood Press & Design Studio

Dr. Diane Guerriere