Summer Fun Guide 2020 by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

FREE TAKE ONE!

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WEIRS TIMES NEWSPAPER

BOATING • RECREATION • ATTRACTIONS • DINING & EVENTS

2020 LAKES REGION

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Meredith Marina

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Hotel Elmwood, Wolfeboro, NH.

Crawford Notch, White Mountains, NH.

Seeing New Hampshire From Its Roads An Early Summer Motor Trip In 1923 by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

Back in 1923 a writer from the previous century was quoted as saying: “The summer boarder is our best and biggest crop in these parts.” Those boarders who wanted to get away from city life for awhile were welcomed by farmers who made a room or two available for them. This helped the farmer financially while their guests could relax and enjoy their vacations. I suppose they were the inspiration of and similar to today’s Bed and Breakfast establishments. Tourists or “summer people” have been coming to the state for a long time to enjoy the beauty and recreation offered them here. Whether on the lakes and rivers, in the mountains, the forests, or on the farm, visitors come to view the scenery and use the land and water for their enjoyment. Hotels and Motels as well as Campgrounds and RV Parks provide places for visitors to stay in these days. There is a way that not only visitors to New Hampshire, but also the permanent

resident, can see the state throughout if they can resist staying put at the lake or the mountain resorts and chose to go on a drive through a large portion of the state. That is what Mr. Henry H. Metcalf did and wrote about in The Granite Monthly magazine in 1923. He called his outing an “Early Summer Motor Trip.” The roads may not all be the same today, but maybe the reader would like to follow the same route and see what he sees compared to the mainly mountain view trip of the Metcalfs. He doesn’t say who was with him, but I assume it was his family. By 1923 the influx of tourists was having a yearly increase, partially because of the coming of the automobile and the development of roads on which it could travel. “Spring comes slowly to New Hampshire”, wrote Metcalf concerning their motor trip during the first week of June, when most of the hotels in the mountains were still “shuttered and barred”, but they did find the Monadnock Hotel in Colebrook to be open, though they were the only guests. These automobile travelers of 1923 started

their excursion in the southwestern part of the State. They went through Keene on “smooth roads” along the Dartmouth College Highway to Newport and Lebanon and past little villages with white churches and shaded by elm trees. It was mentioned that their trip took them close to Sunapee and the Shaker Village at Enfield by Lake Mascoma, and that a side trip to these places would be worth one’s time. They stopped at Dartmouth College which was still in session, with lots of activity, before the coming of summer when things became quiet at the school in that period of time. However, on that early June day, things were humming. New buildings were going up on the expanding college grounds and from the window of the Hanover Inn they observed a group of boys dressed in golf jackets and knickers leaning against the senior fence while carving each other’s senior canes. Freshmen were made evident by “their absurd green caps.” When darkness began to set in sounds came from all over the campus. There “...came the vigorous sound of college songs and the Indian war-whoop which strikes terror in the hearts of See ROADS on 29

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

— OFF THE SHELF/SUMMER READING —

by Debby Montague

— A Summer Clowder —

Weirs Times Book Reviewer

“Books. Cats. Life is good.” – T. S. Eliot “Clowder” is not a typo. A clowder is a group of cats, large and small, but more than two. Many famous people have loved cats and often had a clowder. For instance, Mark Twain is both a famous author and a famous cat owner. Abraham Lincoln brought his cats into the White House. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida is home to fifty or sixty polydactyl cats, some supposedly descended from a polydactyl cat given to Hemingway by a sea captain after a drunken evening together. And Freddie Mercury, front man for the rock group “Queen” had a clowder, too. In the album notes for “Mr. Bad Guy” Freddie states: “This album is dedicated to my cat Jerry – also Tom, Oscar and Tiffany and all the cat lovers across the universe – screw everybody else.” If you are a cat-lover, you are in good company.

Another thing about cat lovers is that they are often book lovers, too. So, for all you cat lovers, and those of you who may want to see what the fuss is about, may I suggest five cat series - a clowder of sorts, large and small, but more than two – for your summer reading pleasure. Wait. If you are a cat-hater do not stop here. Though the cats may be the main attraction in the series there are other reasons for considering them. Three of the series are mystery series none too serious, some a little silly, but all good company on your deck, under the tree in the backyard, or wherever you take a little escape. If you missed your winter vacation and cannot get away this summer think of the Gethers books as travelogues. There is nothing wrong with time spent in Paris or traveling across the United States by book even in the company of a cat. Or perhaps you enjoy hearing a little about the rich and famous. You get plenty of glimpses of celebrities (though perhaps not current celebs) in both the Amory and Gethers series. Maybe you just want an escape, something calm and quiet (despite the murders).

Lillian Jackson Braun’s Pickax and Rita Mae Brown’s Crozet are quiet little towns, good places to spend some summer hours. If it is excitement you are after Carole Nelson Douglas offers plenty on the Las Vegas Strip. Lillian Jackson Braun may be the first author to make cat sleuths famous. She wrote her first “Cat Who” novel, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, in 1966 and followed that with twentyeight “Cat Who” books. The books chronicle the escapades of Jim Qwilleran, “Qwill,” erstwhile newsman and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum. Qwill attracts murder and mystery whether he is on vacation “400 miles north of everywhere” or “Down Below”in the city. Koko, the male of the Siamese pair, is the one who steers Qwill to the problems and perpetrators. Qwill believes that Koko’s extra whiskers, sixty instead of the usual forty-eight, give him powers to predict strange happenings and flush out offenders. For a non-fiction clowder Cleveland Amory’s books about his adopted cat, Polar Bear, is one of the best. Amory did social commentary on the “Today Show” See MONTAGUE on 22

New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of State Police New Hampshire Marine Patrol

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Get Your NewEducation Hampshire Safe Get Your New Hampshire Safe Boater Certificate! Boater Education Certificate! New Hampshire does have a mandatory boating education law. Everyone 16 years of age and older who operatesNew a motorboat over 25 horsepower on Hampshire does have a mandatory New Hampshire waters must have a boating education certificate.

boating education law. Everyone 16 years of age and older who operates a Boating safety is a concern for everyone on the water. Boaters can keep themselves motorboat over 25 horsepower on New and their passengers’ safe by learning about responsible boat operation, etiquette, Hampshire waters and the rules of the waterways.must have a boating education certificate. Boating safety a concern for everyone on the The program offers a one dayisclass or evening classes. water. Boaters can keep themselves and their To search /register for a class visit www.boatingeducation.nh.gov passengers safe by learning about responsible boat operation, etiquette, andtothe rules of the waterways. Visit our website at www.marinepatrol.nh.gov learn more about New

Get Your

New Hampshire of age an New Ha

Boating safety is and their passen

The p To search

Visit our web

Hampshire’s boating laws and regulations.

The program offers a one day class or evening classes. To search / register for a class visit boatingeducation.nh.gov

Start en

Start enjoying your boating experience and remember to wear your life jacket!

NH Department of Safety • Division of State Police

NEW HAMPSHIRE MARINE PATROL

Visit our website at www.marinepatrol.nh.gov to learn more about New Hampshire’s boating laws and regulations.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Tim Moore is the director for an annual kayak fishing and learning event on Squam Lake called Kayak University.

by Tim Moore

Why Kayak Fishing?

Contributing Writer

I told a friend I was planning to write an article about kayak fishing but I didn’t know specifically what I wanted to write about. I had spent days thinking about it. I couldn’t decide whether to write about fishing for a particular species, a particular style of fishing, or rigging a kayak. They were all good topics, but none of them really inspired me. One question provided me with enough answers for two articles: “What do you like most about kayak fishing?” they asked. “Catching fish,” was my smart aleck reply. The truth is, “Why Kayak Fishing” can’t be summed up with just one answer. I like fishing from a boat; I can fish places that I can’t fish from shore. I also like fishing from shore for the opposite reason. What about the places I can’t fish from either boat or shore, like shallow water areas such as expansive flats, tidal creeks, or areas surrounded by private property? Have you ever fished from a bridge

and wished you didn’t have to keep throwing your bait up current? I can position my kayak as far away or as close as I like to structures such as bridge and dock pilings. (Newer kayaks, such as the Old Town Sportsman Autopilot have a GPS enabled Minn Kota motor that allows me to use a mode called Spot Lock to sit in the same spot, without an anchor.) I can paddle into or through areas with only a foot or two of water, places you’d be crazy to bring most boats. When I hit a rock with my kayak, and yes I said when, I simply bounce off and keep on going. It’s not ideal, but I grimace far less when I hit a rock in my kayak than I do in my fiberglass boat. Sometimes shallow water areas are gateways to deeper tidal rivers that will hold flounder, striped bass, and other saltwater gamefish species during all tides and my kayak is the best way in. Many tidal rivers and creeks are inaccessible by boat or on foot due to shallow water or private property. Kayaks allow me to paddle along these creeks where flounder and striped bass are relativeSee MOORE on 28

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PARKER MARINE Route 11 • Next to the bridge • 381 Main St. • Alton Bay, NH

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

You’re Cleaning Your Hands, But Are You Cleaning Your Boat?!

Dispose of all material away from the lake where it won’t wash back into the water. Cleaning is the law in New Hampshire!

by Andrea LaMoreaux NH Lakes Assoc.

With 1,000 lakes, New Hampshire is a boating paradise. This boating season, we’re betting you’re more excited than ever to get out onto the lake! We’re also betting you’re doing all you can these days to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But, are you doing all you can to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, too? Find out the simple actions you can take to prevent spread of invasive species—check out the tips below! Before leaving any boat launch area and getting on the road: CLEAN: Clean off all mud, plants, animals, and debris from your boat, trailer, and gear. Clean off anchors and anchor lines, water intake grates on jet-powered craft, kayak and canoe cockpits, storage compartments, and paddles, too!

DRAIN: Drain the motor, bilge, live wells, ballast tanks, storage compartments, and gear. Blow out water in jet-powered craft and tip paddle craft and motors to let out water. Drain all equipment in an area where the water won’t flow back into the lake. OPEN/REMOVE drain plugs and keep out/open while trailering. You may need a wrench to remove plugs. Draining is the law in New Hampshire! DRY: If possible, wait at least five days before launching into the lake again. If you don’t have five days, dry off everything that came in contact with the water—a towel will work.

Whether you explore New Hampshire’s 1,000 lakes by motorboat or paddle craft, you know a day on the lake is like a trip to paradise.

Before launching into another waterbody: See BOAT on 27

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

The

Weirs Times Presents

ICE-OUT DATES

For Lake Winnipesaukee EARLIEST ICE-OUT ON RECORD : March 18, 2016

What a sweet ride. With the new GTI™ you can now listen to your favorite tunes, take whatever you need with a larger front storage and LinQ™ attachment system, plus you’ll enjoy a bigger swim platform and improved stability.

What a sweet ride. Visit us to start your Sea-Doo Life

With the new GTI™ you can now listen to your favorite tunes, take whatever you need with a larger front storage and LinQ™ attachment system, plus you’ll enjoy a bigger swim platform and improved stability. Visit us to start your Sea-Doo Life

THE LAKES REGION’S PREMIER SEA-DOO DEALER. HOOKSETT

1354 Hooksett Rd. 603-668-4343

LACONIA

1197 Union Ave. 603-524-0100

Selling watercraft since 1991.

www.HKPowersports.com ©2019 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. See your authorized BRP dealer for details.

1888 May 12 1889 Apr. 14 1890 Apr. 24 1891 Apr. 23 1892 Apr. 11 1893 May 10 1894 Apr. 20 1895 Apr. 26 1896 Apr. 23 1897 Apr. 23 1898 Apr. 14 1899 May 2 1900 Apr. 26 1901 Apr. 20 1902 Apr. 4 1903 Apr. 2 1904 Apr. 29 1905 Apr. 24 1906 Apr. 26 1907 Apr. 29 1908 Apr. 21 1909 Apr. 19 1910 Apr. 6 1911 May 2 1912 Apr. 23 1913 Apr. 17 1914 Apr. 15 1915 Apr. 24 1916 Apr. 16 1917 Apr. 28 1918 Apr. 24 1919 Apr. 14 1920 Apr. 24 1921 Mar. 28 1922 Apr. 17 1923 Apr. 24 1924 Apr. 18 1925 Apr. 10 1926 May 2 1927 Apr. 13 1928 Apr. 19 1929 Apr. 18 1930 Apr. 7 1931 Apr. 11 1932 Apr. 20

LATEST ICE-OUT ON RECORD : May 12, 1888

1933 Apr. 25 1934 Apr. 21 1935 Apr. 21 1936 Apr. 8 1937 Apr. 25 1938 Apr. 17 1939 May 4 1940 May 4 1941 Apr. 16 1942 Apr. 18 1943 Apr. 30 1944 May 3 1945 Apr. 1 1946 Mar. 30 1947 Apr. 24 1948 Apr. 10 1949 Apr. 6 1950 Apr. 20 1951 Apr. 14 1952 Apr. 20 1953 Apr. 3 1954 Apr. 16 1955 Apr. 19 1956 May 3 1957 Apr. 3 1958 Apr. 13 1959 Apr. 26 1960 Apr. 19 1961 Apr. 27 1962 Apr. 24 1963 Apr. 20 1964 Apr. 28 1965 Apr. 22 1966 Apr. 20 1967 Apr. 20 1968 Apr. 15 1969 Apr. 25 1970 Apr. 28 1971 May 5 1972 Apr. 22 1973 Apr. 23 1974 Apr. 17 1975 Apr. 25 1976 Apr. 17 1977 Apr. 21

1978 Apr. 27 1979 Apr. 25 1980 Apr. 16 1981 Apr. 5 1982 Apr. 29 1983 Apr. 10 1984 Apr. 20 1985 Apr. 14 1986 Apr. 16 1987 Apr. 12 1988 Apr. 16 1989 Apr. 25 1990 Apr. 22 1991 Apr. 8 1992 Apr. 21 1993 Apr. 22 1994 Apr. 23 1995 Apr. 15 1996 Apr. 17 1997 Apr. 24 1998 Apr. 7 1999 Apr. 8 2000 Apr. 10 2001 May 2 2002 Apr. 5 2003 Apr. 25 2004 Apr. 20 2005 Apr. 20 2006 Apr. 3 2007 Apr. 23 2008 Apr. 23 2009 Apr. 12 2010 Mar. 24 2011 Apr. 19 2012 Mar. 23 2013 Apr. 17 2014 Apr. 23 2015 Apr. 24 2016 Mar. 18 2017 Apr. 17 2018 Apr. 26 2019 Apr 24 2020 Apr. 6

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Safe Hiking In New Hampshire

We want you to be safe on the trails! The NH Fish and Game Department and the White Mountain National Forest are partners in a mountain safety education program called “hikeSafe” to help get the word out on what hikers need to know. As part of this program, the Hiker Responsibility Code is posted on hikeSafe signs at all major trailheads in New Hampshire. The code applies to all hikers, from beginners on a short hike to experienced outdoor enthusiasts embarking on an expedition. Please practice the elements of the code and share the code with fellow trekkers. This will help increase responsibility and reduce the need for Search and Rescue efforts. In case of an accident or emergency, call the NH State Police at 1- 800-525-5555 or 911. Be sure to give specific details concerning you, your emergency, your location and a callback number.

you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you’ll return and your emergency plans. •To stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest person. •To turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day. •For emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself. To share the hiker code with others. Additional resources for hiking preparation, including how to plan your trip and what to know if you’re hiking with children or a group, can be found at hikesafe.com.

HikeSafe Hiker Responsibility Code You Are Responsible For: •Knowledge and gear. Become self reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start. •To leave your plans. Tell someone where

Recommended Clothing And Equipment for Hikers FOR SUMMER DAY HIKES The Ten Essentials Map Compass See HIKE on 20

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Dock Hardware, Aluminum Ladders, Float Drums, Styrofoam Billets, Kayak Racks, Mooring Whips, Stairs, Jet Ski Lifts, Boat Lifts, Dock Bumpers & More!

Check Us Out: 252 Daniel Webster Hwy, Belmont, NH Or Call (603) 524-2000 www.lakesregiondock.com • info@lakesregiondock.com

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

by Brendan Smith

Two Flatlanders Take A Walk In The Woods

Weirs Times Editor

From “The Flatlander Chronicles. It was all the fault of my friend from New York. He came up for a visit and he got in his mind that he wanted to be one with nature. Where we both grew up, being one with nature meant paying a yearly fee to have a sticker for your car so you could go where there was a large area of trees and grass separated from the turnpikes and avenues which encircled it by a few thousand feet of fencing. It was considered a walk in the woods. I warned my friend that taking a walk in the woods in New Hampshire was an experience of a different kind. He was convinced that since I lived here for a few years already, I would be the perfect guide. I couldn’t talk him out of this. I did, however, talk him out of bringing his cooler on our journey. This wasn’t one of your small, picnic by the river coolers, but one of those lifeboat sized ones that you had to strap to your car roof with a bungee cord and pay an extra dollar to get through the

tollbooth with. The woods I chose were near where I lived. I assumed we really couldn’t get lost as long as I paid attention to where we were. I brought along some old rags to tear into strips and tie around the trunks of trees to mark our path. After marking the first few, I decided to stick with the thinner birch trees since marking ones with really wide trunks became a two-man operation and we were using up the rags way too fast. The walk was progressing nicely when my friend was suddenly upset by the loud squeaking of what he assumed was a rabid chipmunk. He panicked and broke into a run. Some deep, dark, instinctual fear had gripped him and he headed aimlessly into the thickening brush. I tried to keep up so as not to lose him. In my haste, I forgot to mark the trees. In no time at all we were lost. We circled the woods aimlessly for what seemed like hours but was only, as my friend informed me looking at his new Rolex, about ten minutes. We were making no progress. He looked at me for an answer to his predicament. Being originally from New York, and realizing that it would be best to get back to my roots to communicate with him calmly, I spoke in the form

of questions. “Which way?” he asked. “Where? Out?” I stalled. “Do you know the way?” “What do you think?” “Well. Which way?” “Why? You in a rush?” “What will we eat?” He had me on this one. After all, it was almost lunchtime and my friends regimented process of consuming a solid five meals a day was catching up with him. He stopped and sat down against a sappy pine. I studied the situation and calculated that the amount of body fat he had to burn would most likely keep him coherent for a few days. It was his mental capacities I needed to keep sharp. He needed to chew on something soon so as not to disrupt his habits. It was then that I saw the answer to this dilemma. Something that would not only give us sustenance, but would also provide us the energy to resume being lost. “Fiddleheads,” I yelled. “Boneheads more like it,” my friend groaned. “No Fiddleheads. They See WOODS on 24

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Connecting With Nature? NOT CANCELLED!

Trails & Gardens Open at Prescott Farm

LACONIA - In fact, nature is a terrific ally in the maintenance of mental and physical health. Prescott Farm can be part of that nature connection, even during times of social distancing. Located on 928 White Oaks Rd in Laconia, the property is a free resource open to the public from dawn-to-dusk every day. Visitors can choose their own pace as they find an abundance of natural sights on the wellmarked trails. Starting at the parking lot and winding gradually into the woods, the trails cover much of the 160-acre property. Several different ecosystems, from meadows and vernal pools to thick hardwood lots down by the Maple Sugar Shack, offer a perfect way to glimpse the early signs of spring as they emerge. Although the Pardoe Building is closed to visitors at this time, families are still invited to enjoy the PlayScape – a source of endless entertainment for playful souls of all ages. Slides, stick-builthideaways, outdoor play kitchen, nature’s natural musical instruments, and other various tools of discovery will engage imaginations – and burn off some stay-inside-all-day energy! A post-play session hand wash is a great idea, of course. Prescott Farm has taken precautions to help eliminate the spread of COVID-19 while also re-

maining a community resource for connections to nature. While the doors of the building remain locked at this time, the doors to nature remain open. All are encouraged to come and enjoy nature – and keep eyes and ears open for the return of regular programming! Prescott Farm is a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to environmental education and preservation. For more than twenty years, Prescott Farm has been a destination for people of all ages to learn about New Hampshire wildlife, ecology, natural history and cultural history through hands-on public programs and service learning opportunities in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It is a designated wildlife viewing area with over 160 acres of idyllic farmland, forest and pastures open daily, year-round to the public including more than three miles of woodland, pond and field trails, heritage gardens, and a Natural PlayScape, as well as Fledglings Nature-Based Preschool and WildQuest summer and vacation camps. For more information about Prescott Farm and all of its programming and ways to help, please visit www. prescottfarm.org. Prescott Farm – exploring and preserving the natural world, one adventure at a time.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad Ready To Roll

LINCOLN - Following a delayed opening due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the popular Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad which is looking forward to welcoming their guests back and celebrating its 33rd season of operation. With stations located in Lincoln, Meredith and Weirs Beach, NH, the owners and staff of the Railroad have gone to great lengths this Spring to ensure an enjoyable and care-free experience for their guests. Operations will begin with the opening of the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, NH on Saturday & Sunday, June 20th & 21st, 2020 offering train rides at 11am and 1pm both days. “Everyone on our Team has been busy for weeks preparing to welcome our guests back,” stated Benja-

min Clark, Vice President of the Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. “We’ve been carefully following the many COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines provided by State and Federal officials to make sure our guests are not only comfortable when they arrive, but confident knowing that we’ve taken the steps necessary to ensure a fun, safe and healthy experience.” On Friday, June 26th, 2020, both the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, NH and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in Meredith & Weirs Beach, NH will begin daily operations. Officials ask that those planning to enjoy a train ride this year purchase tickets in advance. The Railroad’s web site (www.HoboRR.cm) is where you can go to make reservations. Those purchasing tickets online will also

receive a confirmation E-mail from the Railroad following their purchase that will provide them with important details they will need to become familiar with prior to arrival. The Hobo Railroad is located in Lincoln, NH, just off Exit 32 on I-93, left on Route 112, directly across from McDonalds. The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad is located at 154 Main Street in Meredith, NH with a satellite ticket booth located on the Boardwalk at 211 Lakeside Avenue in Weirs Beach, NH. For information regarding advance ticket sales, departure times and COVID-19 recommendations, visit www.HoboRR. com, or follow the Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad on Facebook.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

OUT on the TOWN Great Food, Libations & Good Times!

Shibley’s Drive-In Ice Cream

Castle In The Clouds Opens For The Season On July 1st

All Flavors Hard and Soft Serve Seafood • Lobster Rolls

Fresh Ground Burgers Daily Open 7 days 11 am to close 875-6611 for Takeout • Next to Mini Golf • Alton Bay GPS: 15 Mt. Major Hwy

SHIBLEY’S

Dine on the Water at Alton Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee

AT THE PIER

THE LAKESIDE !

] Poultry Pasta ] Veal OUTDOOR Full Liquor License Boat DockingDECK Available ] Lamb ] Lobster

Dine on Our Sundeck www.shibleysatthepier.com Located Right by the Water ON THE WATER, ALTON BAY, NH • • 875-3636 603-875-3636 Route 11 • Alton Bay, NH

MOULTONBOROUGH – Castle in the Clouds is preparing to open for the summer season, beginning Wednesday July 1st. The Castle will be open daily from 10am to 5:30pm for mansion tours, dining, programs, and more. The property also offers access to more than 28 miles of hiking trails throughout the Ossipee Mountains managed by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. Pandemic related ad-

GPS: 42 Mt. Major Hwy

L yons’ Den~CoStmaye foforr the View the Food! Restaurant & Tavern SPECTAC U VIEWS L AR

Open Daily at 11am for Lunch and Dinner

Full Menufor Availableut! Take-O

overloo k Smith C ing ove!!

Serving Steaks, Seafood & Original Cuisine Featuring Boneless Roast Stuffed Duck

$5.00 OFF

EXPIRES 10/31/2020 • WT-BOAT

justments to the Castle’s operating plans include implementing a program of enhanced cleaning and sanitation of high touch surfaces, using timed tickets to control the number of guest inside the mansion, and a requirement that visitors and staff members wear face coverings while inside buildings or in close proximity to one another. Food service in the Carriage House restaurant will be limited – beginning with the popular music night series that begins on July 6th. Reservations are required for these evening events. Visitors and the public

can enjoy lunch at the revamped Café in the Clouds, open daily and featuring an expanded menu including many favorite items from the Carriage House and offering outdoor seating in the scenic meadows near Shannon Pond. The regular entry along the historic estate road will be closed to vehicles, but accessible to the public as a hiking trail – all guests should enter the property through the Ossipee Park Road entrance. The Castle has planned a full slate of programs and community events for the season, beginning on open-

ing day with the first Wellness Wednesday session of the year featuring Yoga on the lawns of Lucknow, generously sponsored by Huggins Hospital. Registration is $15 per person and is available on the castle website. Other programs include “Castle CloseUp” specialty events focused on architecture, technology and furnishings, creative “write and hike” sessions, a NH Humanities lecture on New Hampshire history, a Vintage Baseball Game, and returning favorites like Castle After Hours, Solar Gazing, and Stargazing. The popular Castle Car Show has been rescheduled and is returning to the field by Shannon Pond on Saturday, October 3rd from 10am-3pm. For more information about the Castle and to plan your visit, call 603-476-5900 or visit castleintheclouds.org

Come By Boat or Car & Relax By The Lakeside at AKWA MARINA’S BEACH BAR & GRILLE IBLE INCRED WS! IE LAKE V

ANY FOOD PURCHASE

Minimum order of $15, or more! Expires 09/15/19 • WT-BRG

Open Tues - Sun • Closed Mondays • Reservations Encouraged

25 Dock Road, Gilford • 603-293-8833 LyonsDenRestaurant.com

Find Us On Facebook!

Located just off scenic road, a short walk from the Weirs. 95 CENTENARY AVE., WEIRS

603-968-5533

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

OUT on the TOWN Great Food, Libations & Good Times!

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Ready For 2020 Season ers $3 admission for up to four people but reservations must be made by phone at 603968-7194 x 7. Reciprocal admission and library passes will also be honored by making reservations by phone. To honor those on the front lines of the pandemic, the Science Center is extending free trail admission to first responders and medical workers. Please call to register for a trail time and note that you are a first responder or med-

ical worker. You will be asked to show an employee id as proof upon arrival at Admissions. When planning a visit, visitors and

members alike must reserve tickets in advance at the Science Center’s website, nhnature.org. Guests must purchase tickets See SQUAM on 26

Dewey’s

Ice Cream Parlor & Café

LLC

Located in beautiful downtown Center Harbor within walking distance of the town docks.

Home-made Ice Cream, Coffee, Cappuccino & Espresso, Fresh Hand-made Sandwiches & more

Happiness Served Here!

34 Plymouth St. (across from CH Town Library) Center Harbor, NH 03226 www.deweysicecreamandcafe.com • Tel: 603-253-4009

Great DininG in the Lakes reGion

Open For TakeOut & Curbside Delivery!

FRESH SEAFOOD • GRILL FAVORITES • SUBS • ROLLS Best Whole Clams on the Lake! Kids meals served fries, drink & a fris with bee! 55 Mt Major Hwy, Alton Bay • 875-6363 • popsclamshell.com OPEN Thurs - Mon • 11:30am - 8pm • Closed Tue/Wed

D.A. LONG TAVERN Always Lots Of Fun On Tap!

**Outside Dining in the tent and on the porch at Canoe Center Harbor 603-253-4762

Laconia 603-524-9373

HOLDERNESS - Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is pleased to welcome the public back to visit its live animal exhibit trail, which will open on Monday, June 15. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will open to the general public beginning Wednesday, June 17. New hours for 2020 at 9:30am to 4:00pm. with the last trail admission at 3:00 p.m. Some exhibits will be closed for the 2020 season including the Gordon Children’s Center and Interactive Playscape. In addition, the picnic area and pavilion are closed with no food service or water fountains on site. Visitors must bring water or can purchase it on site. The Raptor Exhibit and Celebrate Birds Exhibit are also closed to undergo construction and renovations for new exhibits opening in 2021. Due to the trail changes trail admission is reduced for the 2020 season to $15 for adults and seniors, and $10 for youth ages 3 to 15. Children 2 and under and members are free. To minimize exchanges of items between guest and staff, other vouchers and coupons will not be honored during this time. The Museums for All program will continue to allow EBT card hold-

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — New Hampshire's Choice for Local & National News,Talk & Weather

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HIKE from 11 Warm Clothing: Sweater or Pile Jacket Long Pants (wool or synthetic) Hat (wool) Extra Food and Water Flashlight or Headlamp Matches/Firestarters First Aid Kit/Repair Kit Whistle Rain/Wind Jacket and Pants Pocket Knife Also important to take on day hikes Sturdy Footwear and Extra Socks Watch Trash Bag (for trash or rain protection) Light Plastic Tarp or “Space” Blanket Guidebook Insect Repellent Sunglasses Sunscreen Gloves or Mittens Personal Medications Cord/Rope Gaiters Extra Batteries ADD FOR OVERNIGHT TRIPS AND GROUPS Sleeping Bag Foam Pad See HIKE on 21

Get Your Hike Safe Card

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is authorized to sell voluntary Hike Safe Cards for $25 per person and $35 per family. The card is valuable for anyone hiking, paddling, cross country skiing or engaging in other outdoor recreation. People who obtain the cards are not liable to repay rescue costs if they need to be rescued. An individual may still be liable for response expenses if the actions that created the need for the emergency response meet criteria set forth by legislation (RSA 206:26-bb).

How To Purchase Hike Safe Cards

Buy your card online at Fish and G ame’s license sales site www.nhfishandgame.com Print and mail application PDF Document (Available at NH Fish & Game Website) or Purchase at the N.H. Fish and Game Department in Concord. Is there a physical card that I can put in my wallet? No. The information can be printed out by the consumer at the time of purchase or may be downloaded as a pdf on a smart phone. How long is the card good for? The card covers the calendar year from the date and time of purchase through December 31. Is the card only for hikers? This card is not just for hikers! The card offers the same exemption from liability for rescue costs for people engaging in outdoor activities from canoeing and kayaking to cross country skiing, rock climbing, orienteering and trail running. If I have a valid NH hunting or fishing license, do I need a Hike Safe card? If a person has a current New Hampshire hunting or fishing license, current OffHighway Recreational Vehicle or snowmobile registration, or current boat registration, they receive the same benefit. What is considered a “family” for hike safe card purchases? For purposes of purchasing a family Hike Safe Card, families include the hike safe cardholder, his or her spouse, and his or her minor children and minor stepchildren, as well as those under guardianship, as of the date of purchase.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — in Search and Rescue, you could be liable to pay the costs of your search and rescue mission. For more information on hiking safety, contact or visit hikesafe. com

HIKE from 20 Tent or Other Shelter Stove, Fuel Pots, Cup, Bowl, Spoon Food Water Purification Toothbrush, Towel, etc. Extra Clothing Add for above Treeline Crampons Face Mask Ice Axe Goggles Add for Avalanche Terrain: Avalanche Transceiver Avalanche Probe Snow Shovel To have a safe, enjoyable outdoor experience and help reduce search and rescue efforts... BE PREPARED. Proper planning and preparation before you go will help you have a safe and memorable trip. Remember to practice the Hiker Responsibility Code to ensure everyone’s safety. It’s your responsibility. In case of an accident or emergency, call the NH State Police at 1800-525-5555 or 911. Be sure to give specific details concerning you, your emergency, your location and a callback number. Notice: In New Hampshire, if you or anyone in your hiking group acts recklessly -- or fails to practice proper preparation as outlined by the hiker responsibility code -- resulting

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — MONTAGUE from 5

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and wrote columns for TV Guide, but his true calling was protecting animals. On a Christmas Eve Amory was called by a friend in animal rescue to help catch a cat in New York City alley. The cat was desperate; the rescuers were frantic to save him. After a brave battle, fraught with scratches and yowls, Cleveland Amory latched on to Polar Bear and never let go. You are sure to fall in love with Polar Bear in the first book, The Cat Who Came for

Christmas, and you might as well buy, borrow or check out the other two, The Cat and the Curmudgeon and The Best Cat Ever, at the same time. Once you get to know Polar Bear and his curmudgeon, Cleveland Amory, you will want to read everything you can about them. Only three books in this series, but it should get you through a summer weekend. Carole Nelson Douglas’s “Midnight Louie” series will attract black cat and blackjack aficionados alike. Like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone mysteries, Midnight Louie is an alphabet series so it might take even the ambitious reader, cat-lover or not, about a month to complete. In book one, Cat in an Alphabet Soup you will meet roomies Midnight Louie, the eighteen-

pound feline detective extraordinaire and Temple Barr, the petite freelance public relations specialist with a penchant for high heels and solving mysteries. On the Las Vegas Strip Temple and Louie dodge crooks, cops, mobsters, and murderers, in aid of their friends, a former priest, a mystifying magician, casino owners, ex-mobsters and other assorted Las Vegas types. Peter Gethers, writer and publisher was a confirmed ailurophobe until he was given a gray Scottish Fold kitten. Norton worked that old black magic, cat style, on Gethers and Gethers was transformed into an ailurophile. Like Amory, Gethers wrote a three books series about Norton. The first, The Cat Who Went to Paris, See MONTAGUE on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — MONTAGUE from 23

nosier. Mrs. Murphy, Harry’s Welsh corgi, Tee Tucker, and Pewter, the fat gray cat who lives next door to the Post Office ( but ends up moving in with Harry) do their best to keep Harry out of trouble, but more often than not, they end up getting her out of it. Ailurophile or ailurophobe I hope I have given you some ideas for summer reading. All the cats starring in these series, KoKo, Polar Bear, Midnight Louie, Norton, and Mrs. Murphy are so smart and loveable you might even get a notion to bring a cat (or another cat) into your family (#AdoptDontShop). After our wretched winter and spring, a cat book in your hand and a cat in your lap may be just the thing.

starts at the beginning of Peter and Norton’s relationship and charts their travels to Paris. The Cat Who Went Abroad follows with more Norton anecdotes in the south of France and elsewhere. The Cat Who’ll Live Forever tells of Norton and Peter’s trip across the USA and about the love and dignity of both pet and human when a well-loved pet reaches the end of life. After reading Gethers’ books, if you’re a cat lover and/or parent, you will probably wonder why your cat doesn’t play in your yard, like traveling by plane and train, and refuses to come when you call his name. Be of good spirit - cats like their humans cannot all be perfect. The final entry in this clowder of cat series is Rita Mae Brown’s Sneaky Pie Brown murder mysteries. Ms. Brown is ably assisted in her writing by her cat, Sneaky Pie

Brown, who adds that touch of authenticity. Mary Minor Haristeen, known to friends as Harry, is the postmistress in the small town

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24 WOODS from 13 are all around us and, not only that, they have little creases in their stems.” This was my moment of glory; my saving grace. I was utilizing a

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — bit of information that was passed down from generation to generation and finally made its way to me while accidentally watching a program on outdoor survival one night after

the baseball game was on rain delay. “Fiddleheads are ferns,” I proudly recanted. “You can eat them if they have creases in their stems. If they don’t, they are

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FERN!!” I began scooping up Fiddleheads faster than a presidential primary candidate shaking hands at a Bean Hole Bean dinner. I was careful to make sure they all had creases in them. I still had to boil them and, as fate would have it, I found an empty can of a popular beer nearby. At first, it gave me hope that humans had once been here and survived. There was also a small stream a few yards away. I filled the can, borrowed my friend’s lighter and sat next to him while holding it under the can. We waited for it to boil. A half-hour later we still waited. It was then that my friend decided it was a good time to

pull out the candy bar he had in his pocket. “I ain’t eating no fern.” A bit energized, my friend and I continued on our feeble attempt in getting unlost. I carried the Fiddleheads and our makeshift pot knowing that we might finally break down at some point and have to take our chances. A few yards later, my friend tripped over what appeared to be an enormous mushroom. It was covered with black spots. We both stood motionless around this freak of nature for a long time, not sure if we should touch it. Was there a poison in it that might seep out from its thickened skin and cloud our alSee WOODS on 25

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — WOODS from 24 ready foggy brains? We were startled by a noise. Something was slithering through the brush. We stood breathless, eyes turned towards the approaching menace. Then we saw it. It first appeared to be a tiny albino bear cub but, as it got closer, we realized it was a small boy. He looked at us, picked up the giant mushroom and ran back through the woods, ignoring the best he could these two strange men; one carrying a handful of Fiddleheads and an empty beer can. We carefully followed, but not too close. We soon stepped out of the woods into a playground of the school which was about a quarter mile from my house. A group of boys were playing soccer. We hurried from the scene as quickly as possible so as not to bring about any unwanted publicity. That night my friend and I drank a few of those popular beers and relived our adventure. We steamed the Fiddleheads to see what they tasted like. I found them interesting and opted for a piz-

za delivery. My friend loved them and even bought a case of pickled Fiddleheads at the local general store. He is now in the

process of opening a trendy Fiddlehead café on the upper west side of Manhattan. BrendanTSmith.com

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — SQUAM from 19 for a particular time slot and will need to print and bring their tickets with them or show their tickets on their mobile device. Science Center members will not need to pay for tickets, but must register for tickets and a specific entry time in advance before visiting, following the same process as nonmembers. The ticket and membership card should be presented at Admissions upon arrival. To make sure guests are safe and enjoy their visit, several operational changes are in place. All guests will be asked health screening questions upon arrival. Cleaning and sanitization of exhibits and restrooms will take place every day before opening, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30

p.m. Hand sanitizer will be placed at exhibits along the trail and guests over the age of 2 are required to wear face masks per CDC guidelines. Squam Lake Cruises will also begin running at reduced capacity on Monday, June 15. June 15 and 16 are for members only and June 17 cruises open to the general public. The cruise season will begin with the Discover Squam cruise daily at 1:00 p.m. with additional cruises beginning in July. “We are excited to reopen to the public,” said Executive Director Iain MacLeod. “The staff and the animals will be happy to see everyone. In order to keep our guests, staff, and animals healthy, we will ask our visitors to follow these rules

while they are here. If people follow the safety rules we can remain open for everyone to enjoy. I also want to thank the community for all its support and the staff for pulling together to get through a situation we could never have imagined.” All reopening guidelines and information can be found at nhnature.org/reopen. During this time, operational conditions will be subject change depending on any currently developing situation. Please visit nhnature.org for the most up to date information.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

BOAT from 9 RINSE IF YOU CAN! Rinsing your boat and trailer with clean water between waterbodies is the gold standard! Flush the motor, bilge, live wells, ballast tanks, and storage compartments with clean water per boat manufacturer instructions—be sure to do this in an area where the dirty rinse water won’t flow into the lake or other nearby waterbody. It is best to visit a carwash before launching again, especially if the boat has been in a waterbody containing an invasive species infestation. To find the nearest boatfriendly car wash, visit our website at nhlakes.org/preventthespread. When going from lake to lake this summer, you may be greeted at the ramp by one of our Lake Host Courtesy Boat Inspectors. Stationed at 100 ramps, these nearly 800 employees and volunteers are providing essential services, answering your questions about aquatic invasive species and helping you keep your boat clean and the lake healthy. This summer, they

will be taking special precautions to maintain physical distance during the course of their duties to help prevent the spread of the virus, too. If you do boat this summer, please take care to keep your distance between Lake Hosts and other boaters when launching, and consider only carrying passengers in your boat that are in your immediate household. NH LAKES is the only statewide, mem-

ber-supported nonprofit organization working to keep New Hampshire’s lakes clean and healthy, now and in the future. For more information, visit www. nhlakes.org, email info@nhlakes.org, or call 603.226.0299.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

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MOORE from 7 ly unbothered by other anglers. In freshwater lakes, the shallow draft and smaller profile affords me opportunities to sneak up on sunbathing northern pike without spooking them. I can also drift through tightly-clustered mooring fields while flounder fishing without worrying about hitting other boats. If striped bass are chasing bait toward shore then I try to mimic their prey with my lures. That’s tough to do when you’re in a boat; you’re forced to retrieve your lure in the opposite direction as the fleeing baitfish, which is unnatural, and the bass often know it. In my kayak I can drift into just inches of water near shore and presto, I’m shore fishing and retrieving my lure in the same direction as the fleeing baitfish. Then, just as quickly, I’m back out into deeper water if the fish move back out. This makes me a more ver-

Black sea bass and tautog (blackfish) are two of the author’s favorite saltwater fish to catch in a kayak. satile fisherman and increases my odds of “hooking up.” Access with a kayak is also much easier and cheaper than with

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a trailered boat. The general rule with kayaks is: if I can walk to it, I can launch a kayak in it. Not only can I use public boat launches, there are also tons of cartop access sites in New Hampshire thanks in large part to the NH Fish & Game Department. I can find places to launch my kayaks for free at any tide. New Hampshire is not alone in this. Most states have a plethora of cartop and public launches. Every method has its time and place. Sometimes it’s better to fish from a boat and sometimes it’s better to fish from shore. What does one do when the shore is crowded and there is a lot of boat traffic? I’ll tell you what I do; I get in my kayak and get away from it all. Still, there is an aspect of kayak fishing that I can’t really

explain. There’s something unexplainable about the feeling of catching a fish from the waterline. It’s calm and quiet. No motors, no exhaust fumes, just me and my gear…and hopefully some fish. Tim Moore is a fulltime licensed New Hampshire fishing guide and owner of Tim Moore Outdoors, LLC. He offers guided kayak fishing trips for striped bass and freshwater bass. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association and the producer of In Season Outdoors TV. For information on guided trips visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com. You can also follow TMO on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ TimMooreOutdoors.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — younger days going with my oldest brother deep into the woods in the north country to fish in a stream where there were an abundance of brook trout. But our 1923 explorers started their next day’s journey in a different direction, leaving Colebrook and going through a jagged Dixville Notch to Errol with a side trip to Umbagog Lake and the Azisccos Dam which was over the State line in Maine, but was an important water power development which contributed to the industry of Berlin, New Hampshire. If you travel the right routes in New Hampshire you can also enjoy some of the scenery of its adjoining states. The 1923 trip continued, as Metcalf reported, “Through the thirty-mile woods See ROADS on 30

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stayed on the main roads. The third day of their trip they left Plymouth and went on a straight line to the mountains, through Franconia Notch and into the “rolling country of the upper Connecticut Valley.” They went as far as Colebrook where that day’s trip concluded. If they were on a fishing trip they might have continued to the northernmost part of the State and gone to Pittsburg and the three Connecticut Lakes and maybe some fishing there or in a trout stream. I remember in my

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— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 — ROADS from 29 along the log-filled Androscoggin, we made our way to Berlin and Gorham, the end of another day’s trip.” The logs, we assume, were being floated down the river to the mill for processing, the easiest way to transport them back then. A choice of direction had to be made before

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The party could have gone directly south through Pinkham’s Notch and enjoyed the beauty of that route, “But,” said Metcalf, “we felt reluctant to forego the two cross roads, one north and one south of Washington, which include some of the best loved scenery of the mountains. We doubled on our tracks, therefore, and went northwest, through Randolph and Jefferson to Lancaster, then southeast through Crawford’s Notch, Bretton Woods, Bartlett, North Conway, and Intervale, the country so much loved by Whittier.” Their final stop on

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that day was Wolfeboro, and, as they arrived at sunset, they were reminded of the words that Whittier wrote- “The sunset with its bars of purple cloud, like a new heaven, shines upward from the lake Of Winnepesaukee.” The end of this 1923 five-day plus excursion was at Concord and the feeling was that the more leisurely route along the big lake to the Weirs and Lakeport and then through Laconia and Franklin would be “more full of interest,” but our friends of old felt that time required them to take the shorter route through Barnstead and Pittsfield to Concord. The motor trip just described was done with travel of an average of about one hundred miles a day, and the persons involved seemed to have a preference for the mountain scenes, as they didn’t go near the seacoast or much of the southern portions of the state. It was admitted that by avoiding the side-roads they missed some sights that were worth seeing but hidden from those See ROADS on 31

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —

Red Hill from the Falls, Moultonboro, N.H. ROADS from 30 who don’t venture off the main roads, and acknowledged that there were places worth stopping at that “the speeding tourist” passes by. The motor trip, however, gave them a glimpse of the variety of the beauty of New Hampshire, but it was stated that “one would be foolish beyond reason to claim that in a five-day trip one could even begin to know the mountain country. For that one must live with the hills.” Mr. Metcalf suggested that a tourist to New Hampshire should first take “a quick impressionistic tour of the state. And then one should go back and really get acquainted, stay long enough in each place so that the past as well as the present becomes real.” He suggests that there are stories in the hills that are drowned out by “the swift purr of the automobile engine.” There are those today who make it a goal to climb all of New Hampshire’s tallest mountains, but maybe some who are not interested or able to climb every mountain

would be challenged to travel as many of the state’s roads as possible by “motor car”, or set a goal to travel upon a certain number of her lakes and ponds by canoe or kayak, or even by the old-fashioned method of the row-boat. Some prefer the thrills offered by the ocean waters for

their recreation and/ or relaxation. Metcalf mentioned the story of the Pequawket squaw Molly Ocket who saved the life of Colonel Clark when she warned him of an Indian plot to kill him. The Colonel tried to show his appreciation by taking Molly to his luxurious

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home in Boston where he planned to give her everything he would have supplied his own daughter with. But Molly was homesick and not at all at home in Boston, so the Colonel brought her back to the woodlands of New Hampshire where he built her a wigwam and where she was said to have lived happily. Many native Granite Staters choose to live out their lives here, while others leave for a warmer climate during the winter, and like the birds return in the summer to join the many tourists, some who also return each year, to relax, explore, play, work, worship, and/or learn in an enticing environment.

— THE WEIRS TIMES SUMMER FUN GUIDE 2020 —