Bricker's Blog On Exeter

My First True Crime Book is Out!

2010-11-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Lie After Lie: The True Story of a Master of Deception, Betrayal and Murder, is now available at book stores around the country and online.

I spent almost two years researching and writing the book which follows the murder case against James Keown, a former radio talk show host convicted of poisoning his wife to death by spiking her Gatorade with antifreze.

Signed copies are available at Water Street Bookstore in Exeter and Back Pages Books in Waltham, Mass.

For up to date information about the book, including reviews, videos and photos, go to my facebook author page @ Lara Bricker Author.

Wonderland Thrift Commuter Express

2010-04-17T07:48:00.001-07:00

Got some stuff around the house you don't need. How about donating to Wonderland Thrift Shop during this event from May 3 to May 7. Every day from 6 a.m. until 9:30 am on those days at the Bandstand in Downtown Exeter, you can drop off donations for the shop. These include:

Drive Up and Donate Your Gently Used Toys,
Winter Gear or Small Household Items from the
Convenience of your car!
Free Coffee Refills too!

WONDERLAND THRIFT SHOP & FURNITURE BARN
A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Shop Benefiting Our Community
96-98 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833
603-686-5313
info@wonderlandthrift.org
www.wonderlandthrift.org

Shop profits donated each month to a different local group, charity, church, food pantry or to individuals and families in need.

Benefit Night for the Loaf and Ladle

2010-04-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Loaf and Ladle, Exeter ’s landmark restaurant, is an eatery owned and operated by a local family that has for many years given back to the town and its people.
Help create a benevolent fund for Loaf and Ladle Flood Relief.
The Loaf has been battered this March each time the Exeter River has flooded its banks. The Loaf has rallied for folks in the past.
Let’s rally for the Loaf!
Come one, come all to the Loaf and Ladle, located in downtown Exeter, for a night of live music, free food, wonderful raffle items, and good friends.
9 Water Street
Saturday April 24
7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Come have fun and donate what you can

Feel like a costume ball?

2010-03-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Exeter…The Board of Governors of the American Independence Museum is hosting “The Midnight Ride”, an evening honoring Exeter’s rich Revolutionary past, on April 17th at Folsom Tavern. The lead “Paul Revere” sponsor is The Provident Bank and proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the museum’s educational programs.

The event will begin with a champagne toast at 6pm, hearty hors d’oeuvres, delightful desserts and an auction of special items and experiences. Tickets for the event will be $100 per person for members of the American Independence Museum or $125 per person for non-members. Everyone is encouraged to wear a Revolutionary-era costume to add to the festivities.

“It will be a very fun and festive evening, with people in costumes. Who knows who will show up? George Washington? Molly Stark? Maybe Paul Revere himself!” said Gail Nessell Colglazier, the museum’s executive director. “The “Midnight Ride” page at www.independencemuseum.org has details about the event plus suggestions for costumes and rental locations. Tickets may be purchased via PayPal through the web page or by calling 603-772-2622.”

The American Independence Museum, located at One Governors Lane in Exeter, NH, focuses on the contributions of the Gilman family, the town of Exeter, and the state of New Hampshire towards the founding of our nation. It will re-open for tours on May 19 and will host the 20th annual American Independence Festival on July 17.

Susie Leach Benefit

2010-03-10T12:01:00.001-08:00

Benefit Planned in Memory of Longtime Exeter Business Owner
EXETER__When Susie Leach passed away suddenly last September it had a deep impact on Exeter’s downtown community.
For over 20 years, Leach welcomed customers and downtown business members to Billingsgate Deli on Water Street, which she opened in 1987 with her husband Craig. Now members of the downtown business community have come together to organize a benefit in Leach’s memory. The Susan Leach Memorial Concert and Auction to Benefit the New Hampshire SPCA is planned for Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Exeter Town Hall. The event will feature music by Exeter’s own group The Rusted Nuts and a benefit auction where guests can bid to help fund the care and food for animals at the NHSPCA.
The idea for the benefit started with downtown business owner Nancy Phillips who was then joined with the planning by her husband Elliott Berkowitz, Rich Bowles and Steve Brennan, Brian and Lisa Lortie, Dana DeNiro of Luna Chics as well as Dan and Linda Jones, of Jones Law Office. The group all work downtown, knew Leach and wanted to do something in her memory.
“Susie’s death had such an unbelievable effect on all of us in the downtown who knew her,” Berkowitz said. “She was truly part of the fabric of the downtown community. We hope this special night will be not only a chance for those who knew Susie to honor her memory but also a chance for them to support an area organization that was dear to her.”
The benefit event will include two 45 minute music sets by The Rusted Nuts with a benefit auction between sets.
Tickets to the event are $20 and can be purchased at Exeter Music, Water Street Bookstore, LunaChics and the New Hampshire SPCA in Stratham. For more information please contact 658-0004.

Yoga for Everyone

2010-03-05T04:45:00.000-08:00

Exeter's First Ever Yoga by Donation
YOGA FOR EVERYONE
Infinity Yoga Studio of Exeter NH is a unique yoga studio with the goal of recapturing what we consider to be the essence of yoga... simply put, yoga made available to everyone.
In a time where yoga as a business is getting a lot of attention, the fact that it is being priced out of many people's reach is in direct conflict with what we consider to be the spirit of yoga itself. Exactly what does "yoga for everyone" mean? We've heard from people all over the country that they simply can't afford to do yoga on a regular basis. Yoga is an amazing form of exercise that helps strengthen, stretch and de-stress the body and focus and decompress the mind. We want to make it possible for everyone to do yoga regardless of economic limitations. What does "donation basis" mean and how does it work? A donation is the sacred act of giving. There is a suggested donation of $10 a class. Suggested donation means that if you can put $10 in the box, please do. If you are not in a position to do so, contribute what you can. Nobody will be keeping track of individual donations. The $10 dollar donation is not meant as a bottom or a top limit... if you are in a position to donate more, it will be greatly appreciated.
KUNDALINI YOGA & MEDITATION
Who does this yoga? Everyone. Really! The beauty of this yoga is that it is challenging enough for all, yet not too extreme and therefore accessible to everyone. The ages of our students have ranged from 1 to 86 but not excluding 101 Yoga has many benefits:~People do yoga because it helps them look and feel great. ~Yoga helps tone and sculpt muscles while gaining strength, flexibility and balance. ~In a world of stress, yoga helps people decompress and achieve a sense of inner peace, aiding in healing injury or disease AND keeps you connected to YOU & your community. Friday Class at 6:15 PMPre-registration is appreciated as class size is limitedweekend & weekday classes available - please get on email list for schedule infinityyoga@myfairpoint.net
Infinity Yoga Studio & Family Healing Center
1 Great Hill Court
Exeter NH 03833
617-682-8628

Lincoln is Coming, Lincoln is Coming

2010-02-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Abraham Lincoln: From Springfield, Illinois to Exeter, New Hampshire and Beyond

Exeter, New Hampshire – In this illustrated lecture, Richard Schubart traces the crucial political years of transition from 1858 to 1861 when Lincoln became a national candidate for office. Join the Exeter Historical Society on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 p.m. for refreshments), for this fascinating presentation, which will take place on the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s speech in Exeter. The program will be held at the Society’s headquarters, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public. This presentation is a segment of the Lincoln in Exeter Sesquicentennial Celebration, which is sponsored in large part by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335, info@exeterhistory.org, http://www.exeterhistory.org/

Colonial Crimes

2009-12-23T13:52:00.001-08:00

The Naked Quaker: True Crimes and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England

Exeter, New Hampshire – Join the Exeter Historical Society on Wednesday, January 6 at 7:30 pm (with refreshments at 7 p.m.), for “The Naked Quaker: True Crimes and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England” by Diane Rapaport, award-winning author and historical consultant. The program will take place at the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public.

Diane Rapaport presents stories of naked Quakers and other forgotten Americans, bringing them to life in true court cases from colonial New England. On court days in colonial New England, folks gathered from miles around to listen as local magistrates convened to hear cases. In the abundant records extant from these hearings, we experience the passions and concerns of ordinary people, often in their own words, more than three centuries after the emotion-charged events that brought them to court. Rapaport will draw on these records in her presentation to illustrate some of the surprising aspects of life in this period of New England’s history. For more information about the program, contact Laura Martin Gowing, program manager, at the Exeter Historical Society at 603-778-2335 or info@exeterhistory.org.

The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335, info@exeterhistory.org, www.exeterhistory.org.

Santa Brunch at the Old Salt

2009-12-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Will and Nanny got their picture taken with Santa during the special Santa Brunch at the Old Salt.

Toys for Tots at the Tavern Thursday Night

2009-12-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

Thursday December 10

The Tavern at River's Edge in downtown Exeter Hosts the Toys For Tots Event

Truffle starts around 9:00

From Truffle: "Many years running, this is our ONLY seacoast area Toys for Tots evening. We always have a great time with the family of folks here at the Tavern on a normal night....throw the TFT event on top of it and it will be out of control. The food is fantastic, the bar is comfy and the main room gets transformed to a pickin' parlor come 9:00. A suggested donation of an unwrapped toy is all you need to bring.......and yourself of course!"

It's Ladies Night at Arjay Ace Hardware

2009-12-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

Ladies Receive 25% Discount, Refreshments, Prizes and More

Exeter, NH – Arjay Ace Hardware is hosting a special “ladies’ night” event that includes a 25 percent discount on items throughout the store, as well as free refreshments, wonderful prizes, gift card give aways, free gift wrapping and friendly, knowledgeable advice.

The event will be held on Wednesday, December 9 from 6:00-9:00 pm at Arjay Ace Hardware, 55 Lincoln Street in Exeter.

“It’s our great pleasure to host a special event where ladies can shop for holiday gifts, decorations and seasonal products – all at a discount. This popular event features amazing prizes, delicious refreshments and a festive atmosphere,” said Dan Jackson, Arjay Ace Hardware’s owner. “We’re happy to provide assistance in picking out – and wrapping – the perfect holiday gifts.”

Customers will have the opportunity to win wonderful raffle prizes throughout the night, including a Keurig Coffee Brewer, a Kitchenaid stand mixer and more. The first 100 customers to arrive at the event will receive free environmentally-friendly CFL light bulbs for a holiday that’s merry and bright.

“During this season of giving, we’re asking our customers to bring a non-perishable food item to the store during our Ladies’ Night event, and we’ll give them a free set of Christmas lights. All food items will be donated to a local food pantry to help those in need,” Jackson added. “We’re committed to giving back to our community and thank our customers for their generous support throughout the years.”

Arjay Ace Hardware, honored as Business of the Year by the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, is a fourth-generation family-owned store that has served the Exeter community for 25 years. They carry the finest brands, including Benjamin Moore paint, Weber, Carhartt, Ace brand and much more. Arjay Ace Hardware employees take great pride in their work, offering exceptional customer service and friendly, knowledgeable advice. In fact, the award-winning Arjay Ace Hardware has been consistently named one of Ace Hardware’s premiere stores.

Photo Detective Coming to Town

2009-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Exeter, NH…Do you have old photographs hidden in your attic? Are you interested in learning more about the lives of the subjects in the photos and how to preserve these genealogical treasures? Maureen Taylor, “The Photo Detective” will be at the Folsom Tavern in Exeter on Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m. for a lecture to benefit the American Independence Museum.

Ms. Taylor, called “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by the Wall Street Journal, will be speaking about her techniques for photo interpretation and care. She has authored several books, numerous magazine articles, and appeared on many national television shows such as “Today”, “Good Morning America”, “The View” and “Martha Stewart”. Taylor was featured in The History Channel’s series “The Photo Detective”.

After learning that she was working on a book about the American Revolution, the American Independence Museum invited Ms. Taylor to come to Exeter for a lecture. Her latest book The Last Muster: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation, will be published by Kent State University Press in the Spring. Attendees of the lecture will be able to order the book at a pre-publication price.

Admission to the lecture is $10 per person, but a limited number of fifteen-minute personal consultation spots will be available following the event. The fee for the lecture and consultation is $25 and pre-paid registrations are necessary. For more information, to sign up online or to register call 603-772-2622 or visit http://www.independencemuseum.org/. To learn more about Maureen Taylor, visit www.photodetective.com.

The Folsom Tavern is located at 164 Water Street in Exeter, New Hampshire and is part of the American Independence Museum, a nonprofit with a mission to connect America’s Revolutionary past to the present.

Candy For Costumes This Weekend

2009-10-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Candy for Costumes.
That’s what Activities Director Debby Eastman is calling the costume collection extravaganza planned for Oceanside Center nursing home on Lafayette Road in Hampton on Sunday Oct. 18.
Eastman, who has worked with the elderly in nursing homes for 30 years, said Oceanside residents will collect used Halloween costumes for the Seacoast Family Food Pantry in Portsmo uth.
“I am really excited about this and so are the residents of our home,” said Eastman. The residents will be on hand to collect the costumes, she said.
“We are hoping that the children will come with their parents to drop off their costumes,’ said Eastman. “Nursing home residents seldom get to see children, and they just love it when they visit. On top of that, they miss seeing children trick-or-treating so this should be great.”
Eastman said she hopes this early trick-or-treat event will be a great experience for everyone.
“We hope to get a lot of costumes for the (Portsmouth) Seacoast Family Food Pantry,’ she said. “It can be expensive to buy Halloween costumes, and we hope this will give a hand to parents who are financially challenged.”
The Candy for Costumes collection will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their children. Nursing home residents will be on hand in the lobby to collect the costumes and give the kids a treat.
“I believe the Seacoast community is so generous and I am trusting this is going to be a great day,” said Eastman.
Oceanside Center, Skilled Nursing and Rehab, which is managed by Genesis, is the former Haven Health Center on Tuck Road.
For more information, call Eastman at 926-4551 Ext. 4314.

Eat Breakfast with the President

2009-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Guess Who’s Coming to Breakfast at the Folsom Tavern?
George Washington returns November 7

Exeter, NH…President George Washington visited Exeter on November 4, 1789, and had a light breakfast, known as a collation, at the Folsom Tavern. On Saturday, November 7, history will repeat itself as Mr. Washington returns to greet local families as they enjoy Mrs. Folsom’s flapjacks!

“This is such a fun event; it really appeals to families,” said Stephanie Rohwer, Programs and Visitor Services Coordinator at the American Independence Museum. “We’ll have two sessions on November 7, and children will be able to meet the President, have breakfast in the tavern, make a craft and then take a child-friendly tour of the Ladd-Gilman House.”

Sessions will be at 10 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.; each session, with the tour, will run approximately 90 minutes. Prepaid registrations are necessary as seating is limited and the cost is $10 for adults, $8 for children. Museum members are offered a $2 per person discount. To make reservations, call 603-772-2622, email education@independencemuseum.org or sign-up online from the museum’s Calendar page. Please note that online registrations are subject to confirmation and depend on availability.

The American Independence Museum, located at One Governors Lane in Exeter, New Hampshire, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “Connect America’s Revolutionary Past with the Present.” For directions or more information on the museum and its programs, visit http://www.independencemuseum.org/.

AIM Celebrates Purple Heart Day, Honors Military

2009-08-02T06:11:00.000-07:00

The American Independence Museum will be celebrating the Friday, August 7th anniversary of the Badge of Military Merit, also known as the “Purple Heart” by offering free tours to all active and retired military personnel.
General George Washington issued an order on August 7, 1782 to acknowledge the meritorious actions of enlisted men. The badge was to be “the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk…to be worn on the left breast.” Three men were known to have received the honor at that time, but there is no surviving written record of others who were honored with the badge.
The museum will be displaying two Purple Hearts that are in their collection, along with other medals and military ephemera. One of the badges is made of faded purple cloth and was acquired by Society of the Cincinnati member William Willey from a barn in Deerfield, NH in the 1920s. The name of the recipient is not known. The World War II medal on display belonged to J. Phillip Webber and was donated by his widow, Mrs. Alice Webber.
All active and retired military personnel are invited to take a free tour of the Ladd-Gilman House and the Folsom Tavern on Friday, August 7 during the regular tour hours of 10 to 4pm. The last tours will begin at 3pm; admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and those under 6 years of age are free. A Purple Heart craft activity will be available for children, and everyone is invited to enjoy special refreshments.
The American Independence Museum is a not-for-profit organization in Exeter, New Hampshire with a mission to connect America’s Revolutionary past with the present through its tours, programs, and special events. For more information on the museum, to become a member or for directions, please visit http://www.independencemuseum.org/ or call 603-772-2622.

Local Music Show Starts on WXEX

2009-07-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

I've heard that Dr. Andy Inzenga, the well-known music teacher at the Cooperative Middle School, is doing a new Saturday morning music and talk show on our very own WXEX, along with Peter Taylor.

The show called "Tayles and the Doctor" kicks off each week at 9 a.m. and includes tidbits and discussion on songs and songwriters from the Rock 'n Roll era as well as the Motown years of the 1960s and 70s.

If you don't happen to have your radio handy, you can now listen live on line at http://www.1540wxex.com/

My Neighbor's on the Radio

2009-07-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

My neighbor Sharon O'Connor, of Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions, will be on the radio in Concord tomorrow. She'll be on the show Your Health Matters on Concord Community Radio WKXL, with host Chris Lauer, of Catholic Medical Center. They'll talk a little about hypnosis for medical purposes, hypnotherapy and how it could help you.
In the Concord area, you can listen to WKXL 1450AM Monday, July 13 at 2:07PM The show will also be archived on line.

Now That The Sun's Arrived, Here's Some Grilling Tips from The Pros

2009-07-10T13:55:00.001-07:00

By Lara Bricker
Special to the Union Leader
PORTSMOUTH__After a cold and rainy June, many people are ready to fire up their grills for some summer time grilling.
A number of those people opt for already marinated steak, chicken or turkey from one of the growing number of specialty food shops around the state. But just because that meat is already marinated and seasoned doesn’t mean that grilling it up is a no-brainer, according to Justin Rosberg, co-owner of The Meat House.
A common mistake backyard grillers make with pre-marinated meats is opening the package over the grill, which can cause a “flare up” and burn the meat, Rosberg said. Meat that has been marinated for grilling shouldn’t need extra marinade applied during grilling.
“You don’t need to do anything with it,” Rosberg said.
He suggests placing the steak or chicken into a bowl and then using tongs to transfer it to a grill.
Other things to consider with steak tips that may be very tender to start with is that the “feel test” is not an accurate method to determine doneness. Rosberg recommends using a thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat on the grill. Using a fork to turn meat is not a good idea because it can pierce the exterior, causing the juices to escape.
Rosberg and his business partner Jason Parent, who are both originally from southern Maine, opened their first Meat House location in Portsmouth in August of 2003. Since then, they have expanded to include 10 locations around the state, southern Maine and Massachusetts, where they specialize in top quality meats and overwhelming customer service. “We wanted to bring a fine dining experience into a retail atmosphere,” Rosberg explained.
Both men are avid grillers who cook on the grill year round, which has given them a depth of experience in how to grill well, and what to avoid when grilling.
Before cooking any red meat on the grill, you should let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, said Parent. By allowing the meat to come up to room temperature it will need less time on the grill, Parent said, which means that it won’t become overcooked on the outside while waiting for the inside to come up to the desired temperature. Along the same lines, it is important to let red meat rest after cooking to allow the juices to settle back into the meat.
With chicken an important thing to remember is not to turn it more than twice during grilling, Parent said.
“Chicken can attach to the grill,” he said of overturning.
If you’re opting for a choice steak instead of marinated steak tips, Parent suggests it is important to start with a high quality piece of meat. Cuts of steak that lend themselves well to grilling include ribeyes, porterhouse or sirloins. Filets are not a good choice for the grill because they are too lean.
“You’re going to look for a level of marbling,” Parent said. “Marbling really separates the grading system of beef. Something with a higher level of marbling is going to give you more of that robust meaty flavor that you’re looking for.”
Another thing to consider when grilling beef is that a dry aged beef cooks differently than a non dry aged beef, according to Chris Carragher, the director of marketing for the Meat House.
“You want to cook it a shorter period of time than you with a wet aged meat,” Carragher said, adding that is due to the fact that dry aged beef has less moisture. “When you put it on, it’s going to cook that much faster because the moisture is actually evaporated from the steak already.”
Most importantly, according to both Parent and Rosberg, is to take time to enjoy the experience of grilling.
“We’re in New England, our window of opportunity to truly be outside and take advantage of the warm days and long nights with friends and family, it’s here now,” Rosberg said. “The year flies by so quickly.”
You can find recipes at www.themeathouse.com

Exeter’s Senior Hand Celebrates Almost 20 Years In Business

2009-07-09T04:29:00.000-07:00

By Lara Bricker
EXETER__Wayne Patten developed an understanding of the elderly and their issues at a young age.
The 70-year-old Exeter man was raised to the age of 10 by his great grandparents in a small village in the Kennebec River valley in central western Maine. That early interaction with the elderly gave him a desire to help out other seniors. So when the real estate market dropped in the late 1980s and Patten, then a developer, was looking for a new career, he thought of opening a nursing home.
He returned to college and took classes in gerontology. But when one of his professors noted that only a small percent of the elderly end up in a nursing home, Patten had another idea—home care services for the elderly.
At the time, Patten was the oldest person in his class, but he says that wasn’t a disadvantage as he also received the highest grade. When he approached on of his professors with his idea for a home care company, the woman actually wanted to go in as a partner.
“At that time, 20 years ago, everybody though the in home care industry was going to take off like a rocket,” Patten said, adding he decided against forming a partnership and went out on his own.
The industry did not reach the level of popularity many expected, which Patten attributes to the cost which is not covered by most medical insurance plans.
Patten initially employed a number of senior citizen employees in the business which offers everything from personal assistants to respite care to driving services to housecleaning. As years went on he said it became harder and harder to find qualified elderly employees and most of his employees now are not in that age bracket.
Patten hand picks each employee for the company and all caregivers are subjected to a criminal background check. He employees between 20 to 40 caregivers depending on the time and says he has deliberately kept his operation small.
“I totally believe the bigger you get the less able you are to give people the personal touch approach,” Patten said.
That personal touch is what Patten said sets his company apart from more commercial caregiving operations. He personally meets with each new client to go over their needs as well as to get to know them and their interests. He then pairs the client up with a caregiver whose personality and approach seem like a good match. For example, one client was very interested in chess and hoped to find a caregiver with the same interest. Patten says it took some time but he found a suitable match, with a background in chess, to partner up with the client. One paired up, he strives to use the same caregiver each time for a client.
“It comes down to that personal touch issue, you don’t have a different person every time like you might in a big company,” Patten said.
Patten and his employees know that it can be difficult for elderly when people “barge” into their home and tell them what to do.

“We have more respect than that,” he said. “It is their home. We work directly with our customers and clients providing what they need and want.”
Patten said he is open-minded and follows a “live and let live” philosophy with clients.

“This is why all caregivers working with Senior Hand honor elderly rights,” Patten said. “Our clients are people who earned the right not to be pushed around.”
One of the biggest concerns that Patten hears from the elderly is that they will outlive their savings. And he acknowledges that many elderly need a service like the one he provides but cannot afford to pay for help. With national healthcare policy debate taking place, Patten said he would like to see the federal government include coverage of homecare services in their discussions.
By staying small, Patten has managed to keep his hourly price down, with a range of $17 to $26 per hour, which he says is the least expensive rates in the area. One unique aspect of his driving service is that if the driver uses the client’s car, there is no additional charge for mileage as with some other companies.
Some people in need of assistance may be tempted to place an ad in the newspaper looking for a less expensive caregiver, but Patten cautions that may bring in responses from people who are looking to take advantage of the elderly.
“The fact that the elderly are vulnerable to crooks is no joke,” Patten said.
Though the service is a business for Patten, he said it is one he truly enjoys and take satisfaction from helping people.
“We are also, and most importantly, giving them a sense of safety and security,” he said. “We care, we care about our customers.”
For more information call 778-2400 or www.seniorhand-caregiver.com

Exeter, An Out of This World Community

2009-06-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

This stretch of land in Kensington, near Shaw's Hill, has been a hot spot for UFO sightings and even a "landing zone"

Dan Chartrand, of Water Street Bookstore is a major sponsor of the first ever Exeter UFO Festival, organized by local historian and writer Dean Merchant. The downtown bookstore has a good selection of UFO related books available

Including the book that put Exeter on the map for UFO activity:

Exeter Plans an Out of This World Festival
UFO Festival Touts Town’s Global Role in UFO Sightings
By Lara Bricker
Special to the Union Leader
EXETER__Dean Merchant thinks of Exeter as the “East Coast Roswell.”
The 57-year-old Stratham historian is hoping that the first ever Exeter UFO Festival on Sept. 5 will bring others around to the same conclusion.
“In every aspect, New Hampshire is as important and should get the attention that Roswell gets,” Merchant said.
Merchant is referring to the infamous 1947 incident in Roswell, New Mexico which many UFO researchers say was the crash of an alien spacecraft, but that the government says was the crash of an experimental high-altitude surveillance balloon belonging to a classified program. Like Roswell, a sleepy desert town before the incident, Exeter has experienced a large number of reported UFO sightings over the years. The most famous sightings in September 1965 led author John Fuller to write the book The Incident at Exeter.
Ironically the sighting on Sept. 3, 1965 wasn’t actually in Exeter, but on Route 150 in Kensington. Exeter teenager Norman Muscarello was hitchhiking back home to Exeter from his girlfriend’s home in Amesbury, Mass., when he saw some flashing red lights in the woods. He returned to the area with two Exeter police officers and all three men reported seeing a hovering object with red lights.
“The Exeter incdents are one of the best regarded UFO incidents for those of us that study the subject seriously that have ever happened in America,” said UFO researcher and author Peter Robbins. “The reports were made by such credible, respectable, decent people that as a rationalist, I was just drawn to it.”
Robbins, author of the book Left as East Gate: A First-Hand Account of the Rendelsham Forest UFO Incident, Its Cover-up and Investigation, said the sightings in Exeter are a significant piece of UFO history.
“They’re true, they’re documented. They either represent a high level of military cover-up of advanced technology we have or something representative of aliens from other planets,” Robbins said. “If it’s true and there are other intelligences, then there are implications for all of us and it is a very though provoking possibility.”
During the Exeter festival, Robbins will speak about why the subject of UFOs and their implications have been ridiculed since the summer of 1947, when the first major modern sighting was reported.
“It was always treated with a tremendous condescention by the media,” Robbins said. “There is this ridicule factor; it’s extraordinary. For politicians it can be a kiss of death to take UFO’s seriously.”
At an event like the festival in Exeter, Robbins said there is a lighthearted tone, but also an “openness in the air” that enables people to discuss their own experiences.
“I think more and more people are more wiling to say they take this seriously and educate themselves on it,” Robbins said. “But it’s one and two at a time; it’s not happening in droves.”

Merchant, who is also a freelance writer, became interested in Exeter’s UFO connection after writing a series of articles on the topic last year. The more interviews he conducted, the more Merchant started to believe that the Exeter area was still a mecca for UFO sightings.
“The stories just started to grow,” Merchant said. “There’s so many stories you can truly say we live in a hub of UFO activity.”
Merchant believes the number of sightings, and timing of those sightings, is no accident, and the result of several factors at play in the Exeter area. First, he pointed out that the elite 509th Bomb Wing, which was stationed in Roswell at the same time of the incident there, later moved to the Pease Air Force Base. It was after the Bomb Wing arrived at Pease that residents in the Exeter area started reporting sightings of UFO’s, Merchant said.
“The UFO’s followed them,” Merchant said. “That’s why I call it the East Coast Roswell.”
Merchant sees Phillips Exeter Academy as another hub of UFO sightings and says that he has interviewed several people who reported seeing “glowing orbs” around the academy grounds. Then there is the presence of a large area of isolated swamps and power lines, especially in the area off Route 150 in the area of the 1965 sighting.
“Some feel that they draw power off of those lines for those crafts,” Merchant said.
Building on existing interest in Exeter’s history with UFO sightings, Merchant contacted a number of national UFO researchers and speakers, who agreed to take part in the festival. In addition to speakers, the festival will include a writing contest for children, a children’s costume parade contest, a bike tour of the area visiting spots where UFO sightings were reported. Dan Chartrand, owner of Water Street Bookstore, is a major sponsor of the event and is hosting an author’s reception for speakers at the festival. The Incident at Exeter book is always a popular seller at the downtown bookstore, Chartrand said.
The evening will end with a costume ball in the Exeter Town Hall with the band, The Morlocks, where guests are invited to attend dressed as either “earthlings” or “ET’s.” The festival, meanwhile, has already received positive feedback from a number of earthlings.
“It’s getting attention worldwide, which is kind of cool,” Merchant said. “There’s a resurgence in interest in this right now and it’s worldwide.”

For more information about the festival, contact the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce at 772-2411 or http://www.exeterarea.org/

Writing Contest:
Entrants from elementary school through high school are encouraged to write essays of 400 words or less about space or UFO’s. There will be three groups including elementary, middle school and high school. Contest entries should be mailed by July 3 to the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, 24 Front St., Exeter, NH 03833

Supply of Lumber for an Ark?

2009-06-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

After months of renovations and improvements to the old building previously Wentworth Lumber, the Murphy family opened Exeter Lumber for business on Monday. With everyone contemplating building an ark with the never-ending rain, we now have another local supply of wood for the ark. (And they have a cool drive through warehouse to load up)
Check out the mascot dog, Jacoby below

For the whole story, click here or go to www.exeterlumber.com

Thank Goodness for Seatbelts

2009-06-23T09:29:00.001-07:00

This bad wreck was right up the street from my house Saturday afternoon. At first glance, it looks like someone must have been seriously, seriously injured. The van which rolled over was our town clerk Linda Hartson and her husband Hal Macomber. From what I understand, both were wearing their seatbelts, which likely saved them from much more serious injuries.

Sgt. Jeff Butts was called in to conduct the accident reconstruction. (See the Do Not Enter sign in the background, previously at the end of the exit ramp from Route 101)

The Battle Is Back

2009-06-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

I've received big news this week on the annual Independence Festival downtown which despite the name change I will always just call Rev Fest. The battle on Swasey Parkway is back this year! I always loved the battle, albeit a bit loud at times with the cannons, and it's a great event for kids and families to watch. This year's festival is planned for Saturday, July 18.

From the web site for the American Independence Museum:

On July 16, 1776, twenty-two year old John Taylor Gilman read the Declaration of Independence to the townspeople of Exeter. Help us celebrate America's freedom with our popular festival! Join the crowd escorting George Washington down Water Street, listen to the public reading of the Declaration (complete with hecklers!)chat with historic role-players, step to the stirring music of the Lincoln Fife and Drum and delight in the maneuvers and cannon firings of militias. Visit the traditional New Hampshire artisans village, view our original Dunlap Broadside and early drafts of the U.S. Constitution and stroll Water Street to see local arts and crafts. Enjoy plenty of food, music, sidewalk sales and children's activities, then stay for the town's evening fireworks and live band! Sponsored in part by Ocean Bank.

For more information go to: http://www.independencemuseum.org/aim_aif.asp

Open Mic Poetry Night Comes to Downtown

2009-05-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

A fun event coming up on Wednesday, June 10 at Water Street Bookstore. It's Open Mic Poetry starting at 3:30 p.m. New Hampshire Poet Laureate Walter E. Butts will be sharing his poetry. After that, we'll be opening the mic for you to share your own work.

Learn About Natural Flea and Tick Remedies for Pets

2009-05-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Herbalist Carol Lizotte from Green Gems Herbals will be at White Lily Teas (now behind Serendipity) tonight from 5 to 6:30 p.m. or a free talk about how to keep your pets safe in the spring and summer. She will talk about natural remedies for flea and tick control, parasite protection and allergies. She will have some of her own products on hand at the store for purchase.

New Seafood Place Open for Business

2009-05-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

I stopped in this week to check out the new R & B's Surf and Turf on Lincoln Street (in the old Circus Cafe place) and could not believe it was the same place inside. These two guys, Richard Cantrall and "Bub" Kershaw spent the past 5 months gutting and renovating the inside, took out 4 dumpster loads of stuff from the building, and reconfigured the space for more seating. They are serving up baked and fried seafood, lobsters, steamers, and handmade chicken tenders. I've not tried out the food yet, but the space looks great. It's BYOB right now and they have wine glasses and corkscrew on site.

They Did It

2009-05-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was coming back into town this evening and couldn't resist driving by to see if the light was on at the Ioka.
Earlier today, Marc Murai of the Save the Ioka.com announced that if he raised the $10K needed for his good faith deposit by the deadline tonight, they would light up the marquee. If not, it would remain black.
Well, the light wasn't on, but Roger Detzler was climbing on a ladder to post up something to the effect of "We Did It" when I passed by.
I'm amazed that the group was able to raise the money in such a short period of time. I have to wonder if Clint Eastwood did chip in at the last minute. (See the story from Portsmouth Herald here where Murai talks about how he approached Eastwood).
I will say one thing for this fast paced campaign and last minute entrance into the mix by Murai, it has gotten the interested people in the community fired up. I saw some lady jumping up and down on the sidewalk like a pogo stick when Detzler was putting up the post tonight.
Will he be able to raise the rest of the nearly quarter million dollars by the next deadline? We shall see in the next episode of what is starting to feel like our own Exeter version of a reality show.

Ioka Group Issues Last Minute Appeal for $$

2009-05-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

Press Release from the Save the Ioka.com group:

The SaveTheIoka.com community rally and fundraiser on Sunday May 3 at Swasey Parkway in Exeter drew in a crowd of about two hundred people that gave generously.
"We raised just over twenty-five hundred dollars, bringing our current fundraising efforts up to thirty-five hundred dollars," said Wendie Leweck co-campaign manager. "We are asking the community to donate any amount that is meaningful to show support for what will be the Ioka Digital & Performing Arts Center. Your donation shows our investors that the community does in fact want a performing arts center in Exeter."

Marc Murai, who signed an intent to purchase agreement on April 23 with Roger Detzler, current owner of the Ioka, has until May 6 to raise $ 10,000. If the SaveTheIoka.com campaign is unsuccessful in raising that amount, all donations will be refunded. If the $10,000 is raised, the money will be placed as a good faith deposit on the purchase of the theater and gives Murai 60 days to finalize his business plan and present it to potential investors. To show your support visit www.savetheioka.com or contact Wendie Leweck at wendie@savetheioka.com.

Rebecca Rule at Historical Society This Week

2009-05-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

That Reminds Me of a Story: Yankee Humor and the New England Storytelling Tradition

Exeter, New Hampshire –Join the Exeter Historical Society on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 pm (with refreshments at 7 p.m.), for a presentation by Rebecca Rule, entitled “That Reminds Me of a Story: Yankee Humor and the New England Storytelling Tradition.” The program will take place at the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public. This program is generously sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Named “Thalia, Muse of Comedy” by New Hampshire Magazine, Rebecca Rule tells funny, true(ish), close-to-home stories, collected all over the state. Get the inside scoop on dump protocol, town meeting, blue-winged-teal, Perley’s dump sticker, and septic lagoons. Find out about Catherine’s battle with mosquitoes, who’s firing shots from the banks of the Cockermouth River, how come the Chief of Police is sitting in his cruiser half the night at the top of Hoyt Hill, and what some folks think ought to be the new state motto.

Ioka Rally This Sunday

2009-05-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

A Press Release from Save the Ioka.com Group:

Exeter: Please join us this Sunday, May 3 at Swasey Parkway in Exeter, NH at 2:00 p.m. for a family friendly, town hall-style community gathering, hosted by the volunteers of both the SaveTheIoka.com campaign and the supporting community non-profit group.

On April 23 Emmy and Peabody award winning producer Marc Murai signed a preliminary intent to purchase agreement with Immer Besser LLC, current owner of the IOKA ® Theater located at 55 Water Street in Exeter, NH. At that time demolition of the interior of the theater had already begun. The agreement brought an immediate stop to any and all further demolition of the IOKA ® Theater and allows Murai until May 6 to raise $10,000 to put down as a non-refundable good faith deposit, which will be applied towards the purchase of the theater upon the signing of a purchase and sales agreement. Once the deposit is paid, a purchase and sales agreement must be signed by July 9, 2009 or the deposit will be forfeited. During that 60 day period, the plan for the ownership and operation of the IOKA ® as a modern digital and performing arts space will be developed.

This Sunday’s rally will introduce all of our community organizers and supporters and will also serve as an informational presentation to the public on the current progress of the grass-roots campaign. The public will also have the opportunity to ask questions of campaign manager, Marc Murai. Live music and food will be available. So pack up the family or grab a friend and come on down to the Swasey Parkway, because the time has come for You to help save the historic IOKA ® Theater... Once and for all.

To learn more about our efforts please visit www.SaveTheIoka.com or contact Wendie Leweck co-campaign manager at 603.770.5282 or wendie@savetheioka.com.

White Lily Teas Has Moved (And has special events coming up)

2009-04-30T11:04:00.001-07:00

As the Ioka Turns

2009-04-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Exeter Theater Company local community group came out with a statement saying they were waiting for more information before endorsing Marc Murai who hopes to buy the Ioka Theater.

The local group has now met with Murai, gathered more information, and released another statement, this time throwing support behind his plans:

EXETER, NH: Earlier this year a group of community residents concerned about the fate of the Ioka Theater, organized to proactively seek a solution and a potential business partner. Last week, New Hampshire resident Marc Murai put together a Letter of Intent to purchase the historic 1915 Exeter landmark. Our non profit community group has met with Marc Murai, and we have reviewed his plans for the purchase and ultimately a new life for the Ioka Theater. We are pleased to endorse the efforts to save the theater, and will be supporting Marc and his team as they move forward with their campaign. Anyone interested in volunteering with the effort, or making a non-refundable non-tax-deductible contribution towards the purchase deposit should contact Marc Murai, at marc@savetheioka.com or http://www.savetheioka.com/.

Exeter Theater Company Board of Directors:
Joe Pace, Chair
John Merkle, Vice Chair
Peter Michaud, Secretary
Carol Walker Aten, Treasurer
Jay Childs
Ross Dolloff
Betsey Doolan
Mark Paige
Beth MacDonald, Of Counsel

Protest Against Bank of America out on the Avenue

2009-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Fiesta Benefit at Seacoast Academy

2009-04-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

This press release just came my way from the independent school out on Hampton Falls Road. I personally like the outfits of this gang!

“Viva La Fiesta” Seacoast Academy Plans “Friendraiser”
Under-the-stars Dinner, Dancing and Auction to Benefit Independent Middle School

Hampton Falls, N.H. – An energetic committee of parents at Seacoast Academy has been working throughout the winter months to plan a fun-filled “friendraiser” party on the grounds of the independent middle school on May 9, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

“¡Viva La Fiesta!” will feature authentic south-of-the-border cuisine; live latin-inspired music; original artwork created by the school’s 6th, 7th and 8th grade students; and both live and silent auctions for a treasure trove of services, sports tickets, gift items and equipment donated by businesses throughout the tri-state seacoast area. ¡Viva La Fiesta! tickets ($40 per person, cash bar) are available by calling Seacoast Academy at 603/772-9093. Proceeds will benefit the students, faculty and curriculum initiatives at the school, which is a registered non-profit educational organization, but organizers say they hope the party will also be a celebration of the school’s support from and growing role in the tri-state seacoast community.

Ioka's Potential Buyer Makes Statement

2009-04-26T17:21:00.001-07:00

The Save The Ioka website wasn't up and running after the big press conference last week in terms of the letter/about me section from Marc Murai. A letter/personal statement from Murai has now been posted.

A video of the press conference can be seen here:

http://www.vimeo.com/4300731

Also, if you happen to tune into Channel 22 our local access station you might catch Murai on his community cable show NH Theater Live. I happened across the show on Friday night.

Here's the intro to the letter from the site http://www.savetheioka.com/:

Dear Friends, Family and Potential Save the IOKA supporters,
Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Marc Murai. I am a father, husband and life-long artist and arts supporter.
On April 23, 2009 I signed a preliminary intent to purchase document with Roger Detzler, current owner of the historic IOKA Theater.
As you may know, demolition has already begun to the interior of the building. By signing the intent to purchase agreement all demolition has come to a halt, for now. This is the last possible effort to save the IOKA Theater. I must raise $ 10,000 by May 6 2009 as a good faith deposit. If I succeed in doing that I will have forty- five days to create a business plan and come up with solid funding to purchase the building. I am in the process of securing a non-profit fiscal agent to ensure that any and all donations will be tax deductible.
Saving the IOKA Theater may seem like an impossible task. I have heard from doubters. Some do not believe. Some do not trust in me.
So why in the world did I sign that intent to purchase agreement? I did it because it was the right thing to do. I did it because as soon as I walked through those hand carved, double wood doors inside the IOKA… I was instantly transported to a magical place. Yes, magical. The exact same magic that Charlie Bucket felt as Gene Wilder opened the doors to his chocolate room. The same magic that Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund experienced when they stepped through the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia. The same Magic I felt as I walked all by myself down Disneyland’s Main Street at 3:30 in the morning, with no other living person around and just the sounds of my footsteps echoing down the enchanted, glistening streets of the fictional Main Street that we all wish we could have in our home towns. It was that same, overwhelming Magic that Romeo and Juliet both felt as they locked eyes for the very first time, proving to us all that love at first sight is the most powerful force in the universe. It was love at first sight with the IOKA and I’m going to do everything within my power to ensure that she’s given the respect and dignity that she deserves and the unconditional love that she requires if she is to go on living. For the full letter, click here

There was an editorial in the Sunday Herald on this latest news from the Ioka as well. Click here

Community Group for Ioka Releases Statement on Potential Sale

2009-04-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

EXETER, NH : As the founding members of the non-profit Ioka Theatre Company, we welcome Marc Murai to Exeter and we are intrigued by the new developments regarding the potential sale of the theater to Mr. Murai.
We are members of the Exeter community -- residents, business owners, and local advocates -- who formed our group (many inspired by our connections through the online social media network Face Book) to give a public face to the community support for preserving the arts and cultural icon that is the Ioka.
While we are watching with interest the proposed sale of the Ioka to Mr. Murai, at this point in time, we are not associated with Mr. Murai, have not signed any working agreement with Mr. Murai, nor have we come out formally to support his plans for the theater. Our organization is not currently seeking any donations.
Any involvement in Mr. Murai’s initiative will be decided after further discussions with Mr. Murai and after further board discussion at our next board meeting. Although we have had a chance to hear Mr. Murai’s ambitious vision for the theater, we have not had the chance to review any plans, and have not signed any agreement for a working relationship.
We wish Mr. Murai the best in his endeavors, and hope that the true focus of this mission, saving the treasure that is the Ioka for the Exeter community, will come to fruition.

Joe Pace, Chair
John A. Merkle, Vice Chair
Peter Michaud, Secretary
Carol Walker Aten, Interim Treasurer

Town Seeking Oldest Resident

2009-04-24T11:20:00.001-07:00

The town is once again looking for the oldest resident to pass on the Boston Post Cane.The most recent holder of the post cane has passed away which means the cane will now go to the next recipient, according to Peg Duhamel of the Council on Aging. Anyone who knows of a resident of town they suspect to be the oldest should call Duhamel at 772-3705.

Wandering Into Hannah's Fine Foods

2009-04-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Who knew they had desserts too?? Too bad I'm on the healthy eating wagon for the week...

So I hate to admit this, but I haven't until today stopped to check out Hannah's Fine Foods in the Szanton Block building. I was meeting someone today and had a few minutes, so I bopped in to see what they had to offer. Wow. They've done a great job with the inside of the place and have TONS of options for take away dips, meals and desserts. My favorite friendly local wedding planner, Kathryn Pelletier, was working behind the counter and is a great spokesperson for the place.

I was in a rush so didn't have time to pick up anything to bring home, but am going to make a point to do so this weekend. It looks great. Even if you're not into hummus (though I am) there are plenty of other things to choose from.

Check out their web site: http://www.hannahsmarket.com/

Ioka Update

2009-04-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

So I was sitting at Me and Ollie's this morning when the press conference across the street at the Ioka was set to begin.
I decided to head over but got called out on another story.
All I really picked up before I left was that the area press, and independent bloggers, were a bit miffed when they were told to be there and then booted from the theater when they arrived at the designated time. Though they were happy when finally let in to find some baked goods up for grabs.
The gist of the story is that this guy Marc Murai wants to buy the theater and had signed an intent to purchase. He however has no funds at this time and is asking the community to donate $ toward the $10K deposit he needs to move forward.
Some at the press conference raised questions about donating to someone who is not, at this point, is not a non-profit. (Meaning that, as was clarified during a question by Water Street Bookstore Owner Dan Chartrand, that any funds would go directly to Murai at this point, is not tax deductible/etc.)
I'm sure more information about Murai's plans will be forthcoming in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, he's launched a website :

http://www.savetheioka.com/

And two stories are up on the local papers:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Landmark+theater+may+be+saved&articleId=95c3b445-8a0c-418f-aa23-c777033db4d3

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090423-NEWS-90423020

Second Book Published for Riverwoods Resident

2009-04-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Stephen Richardson, a resident of Riverwoods at Exeter, has recently released his second book titled School of the Sea based on his experience as a merchant mariner from 1937 to 1941.

Details of the book from its publisher Whittles Publishing:

Based on his daily diary entries that provide a vivid and accurate picture of events, the author candidly recounts his development as a merchant mariner from his early years when he served his apprenticeship from 1937-41 on Elysia, built in 1908, a passenger ship on the India run. For the remainder of the Second World War, he served as an officer on cargo ships, leaving the sea with the qualification of Master Mariner soon after a return to peacetime.
At sea the war news is relayed in bits and pieces, feeding the underlying tension that keeps rising to the surface. Daily life is punctuated by terrifying episodes such as seeing ships sunk in convoy or hearing bombs drop beside the ship when in port during heavy air raids and the author also relates the horrific experience of being torpedoed. The extremes of nature that all on board had to contend with - winter storms on the North Atlantic; navigating in convoy through floe ice and avoiding icebergs; fog and the ever-present danger of collision; the extreme heat experienced in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, without air conditioning - are all accurately described. He also relates the problems encountered when sailing on worn-out ships that would normally have been scrapped had it not been for the war, and as a consequence experiencing leaks, engine trouble and bursts of flame spouting from the funnel in areas where submarines were operating!
There are glimpses of the author's moods and thoughts, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and sometimes romantic. He displays a droll sense of humour and there are interesting philosophical comments dotted throughout the book.
School of the Sea is a treasure house of unusual information, the kind not usually included in history books. It's personal, vivid, and entertaining and contains some wonderful descriptions of the dramas and mundane routines of shipboard society; stays in foreign ports; when on leave and the long sequestered life at sea. So much is missing from some existing maritime literature on WWII, where the focus is mainly on danger, excitement and death - this book, like no other, captures every dimension of daily life at sea and in port.

New Spa Open House on Friday (They'll have wine and prizes)

2009-04-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Open House Details

When: Friday, April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Much Kneaded Massage LLC, Trisara Facial Spa and electrologist Kristen Landers,
Exeter Crossings, 18 Hampton Road, Suite 8 (the new office building on the corner, third floor)

By Lara Bricker

EXETER — Those looking for a little pampering have a new venue in town for anything from massage to facials to electrolysis.
While the venue is new, the trio of women operating out of the newly constructed professional space in the Exeter Crossings, are familiar faces to many in the area.
Kristen Landers, Colleen Seachrist and Melody Fowler, all worked together at the Exeter Day Spa on Front Street. When the spa closed last fall, they decided to team up in a new space. Each operates her own independent business while sharing a suite of rooms on the third floor of 18 Hampton Road.
"We just felt we needed to do it," said Fowler, who is a licensed massage therapist and Reiki practitioner. "I think the three of us are just so passionate about what we do."
As part of establishing their new businesses, the women are planning to hold an open house this Friday, April 24, as a way to greet both new and old clients who may not have been aware they were still practicing locally.
Fowler offers clients massage and Reiki through her Much Kneaded Massage LLC, Seachrist offers esthetic services through Trisara Facial Spa, while Landers offers permanent hair removal services.
For Fowler, becoming a massage therapist was a true calling. She started massage when she was still in high school and managing a football team, where players often had extremely tight muscles. She now specializes in deep tissue and pregnancy massage.
"I wanted to do something fulfilling with my life," she said. "I love wellness. I just want to help people in a nice soothing environment."
Fowler sees massage therapy as a way to help improve the lives of others.
"I absolutely believe if everybody could have a massage, this world would be a different place," she said. "I'd like to help people improve their lives and their overall wellness one massage at a time."
Seachrist got into esthetics after working in the marketing field for a number of years. "I quickly fell in love with doing esthetics and realized it was my true calling," Seachrist said. "I had finally found my niche."
Seachrist uses Jan Marini, Guinot and Jane Iredale products on her clients, and offers both facial and waxing services. "Providing a quality service and allowing clients to relax to a point of forgetting about their daily stress and routine is a nice feeling even if it's a small part of their day," Seachrist said. "I know personally how wonderful I feel when I've had a spa service, and I want to create that same feeling for my clients."
Landers got into the electrology field after having treatments herself to be free of unwanted hair. "The treatments were successful and gave me the self confidence to feel good about myself," she said. "I decided I wanted to help others gain that self confidence."
She attended the Electrology Institute of New England and is now attending the Esthetics Institute of New England so that she can expand her services to include medical esthetics. Electrolysis is the only proven method of permanent hair removal, she explained.
"Not only is it effective, but also affordable," Landers said. "I use the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and have been trained in all modalities accepted and used today in permanent electro-epilation."
Landers said she absolutely loves her job and being able to help her clients.
"I've seen how it's improved people's lives by enhancing their self-confidence and well-being," she said. "At the end of my work day what better feeling than knowing you've helped someone improve their self esteem."

Newfields General Store Up For Sale

2009-04-20T07:56:00.001-07:00

Current owner Nancy Kingston, who bought the store in 2001, recently lowered her asking price to $395,000 for the well-known property in downtown Newfields. Kingston who has been running the store since April of 2005 said the demands of her real estate business were a major factor in her decision to sell the store.
“With the turnaround in the real estate market, it’s getting very busy and I just don’t have the time,” Kingston said.
The store is one of the last small town general stores in operation in the area, she said, known for its specialty items like penny candy, marinated Danvers Butchery meats and Boar’s Head brand sandwiches.
The red building across from the Newfields Town Hall has been a store for as long as anyone can remember and Kingston is hoping that a new owner will keep it a store.
“I’m interested in finding the right person to buy it who wants to keep it a general store,” Kingston said. “It’s successful, it does well; there’s opportunities to make the store more than it is.”

St. Anthony's Bakery is Open

2009-04-20T05:01:00.001-07:00

The new bakery in the former Baker's Peel, St. Anthony's Bakery, is open for business. New owner Anthony Antociewicz has spent the past week + painting and doing minor repairs inside before opening back up for business.

Ioka Price Going Down

2009-04-19T11:12:00.001-07:00

According to the latest real estate listings, the price for the Ioka is now down to $750,000.

http://www.beangroup.com/real_estate/listings/Commercial/NH/Exeter/674095

It started at $988,000 back when news broke last fall about the closure/sale of the downtown space:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081123/OPINION/811230351

I guess we all have to stay tuned...

Yankee Magazine Writer Coming to Exeter

2009-04-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

An interesting book reading and signing is coming up next week down at Water Street Bookstore. Readers of Yankee Magazine will recognize the name Edie Clark from the The View From Mary's Farm feature.

She is headed to our downtown bookstore in Exeter Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m., to talk about her newly re-issued memoir, The Place He Made.

From her website:

"I'm happy to tell you that, at last, the new edition of The Place He Made is available. The book, originally published in both hardcover and paperback, was declared out of print in 1999 but people have never stopped writing to me in search of this book. Based on this continued interest, I've produced a re-issue of the book and written an afterword which expresses some of what happened as a result of this book. I never expected the kind of response that came when the book was published. Apparently there is a need for books that speak honestly about the experience of losing the battle to cancer as well as the experience of losing a spouse when your lives are still young. It is nearly twenty years since Paul's death yet his special way of being continues to inspire me and encourage me. What has surprised me most is that his special way of being has also inspired others through this book. I never quite realized the extraordinary power of the printed word until The Place He Made was published. The entire experience has taught me a great deal about loss and about grief."

Lyme Disease Documentary At CMS

2009-04-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

With tick season fast approaching, how appropriate. A documentary on Lyme Disease called Under Our Skin is being screened at the Cooperative Middle School next week, April 23, starting at 6:30 p.m.

They describe the film as follows:

"A dramatic tale of microbes, medicine & money, this eye-opening film investigates the untold story of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic larger than AIDS. Each year thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, told that their symptoms are "all in their head." Following the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for their lives and livelihoods, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of our health care system and its inability to cope with a silent terror under our skin."

For more information go to: http://www.underourskin.com/ where you can watch a trailer for the film

New Lumber Store Coming

2009-04-14T07:34:00.001-07:00

I see that the old Wentworth Lumber is slated to become Exeter Lumber, according to the sign out front.
Here's some details from their web site www.exeterlumber.com :

Exeter Lumber is situated on a 3 acre site on Portsmouth Ave. in Exeter, N. H. and has been the site of family-owned and operated Lumber and Building supply organizations since 1958.
The Murphy family is continuing this tradition and is committed to serving it’s community with high quality service and materials.
We are a full service Home Improvement Center offering a wide variety of products and services for our customers in the Tri-State Seacoast region. Exeter Lumber dedicates itself to service and dependability. We have a knowledgeable staff with more than 30 years experience in the building and renovation industry, and are excited about guiding customers with their home projects.In hopes of providing a higher level of service and convenience to our customer, we are pursuing the addition of a new 8,200 SF , four lane drive-through building to the rear of Exeter Lumber’s hardware store to assist in the loading and handling of large & heavy building supplies. This unique feature relieves our client of the nuisance of loading large push carts and then one’s own vehicle, which continually remains the primary complaint of shopping at large national chain stores. For those needing delivery, Exeter Lumber can provide what you need when and where you want it.
As the Exeter Lumber family continues to be active members of the community welcoming customers as members of a greater family, it strives to fulfill its mission as a company that excels in service yet remains competitive with a higher quality product-line.

New Life Coming to Old Circus Cafe

2009-04-13T10:20:00.001-07:00

So I heard today that the long defunct Circus Cafe restaurant on Lincoln Street is going to be a restaurant again.

My sources tell me that R &B's Surf and Turf, a casual seafood type restaurant, is set to open soon in the space. The new owners plan to offer eat in or take out service at the space. I got an advance look at the menu and it looks very similar to the menu at places like Al's Seafood in North Hampton. There's a selection of appetizers like steamers, mussels, shrimp cocktail and chicken fingers. Dinners look to be friend, baked or grilled seafood as well as steamed lobsters.

Stay tuned for full details when I connect with the people behind this new business venture.

The Passing of the Baker's Apron

2009-04-09T08:00:00.001-07:00

By Lara Bricker
EXETER__After 15 years of rising before dawn to begin baking bread, muffins and other pastries in the kitchen of the Baker’s Peel, Judson Lovering is hanging up his apron.
Lovering a well-known downtown personality along with his wife Susanne has finalized the sale of the business to his longtime employee Anthony Antosiewicz. Antosiewicz, 31, plans to open St. Anthony’s Bakery in the space early next week.
Lovering, 50, said he always looked forward to going to work, where he typically arrived at 4:30 a.m., to bake and greet his regular customers. But the passion and energy he had for the business when he started 15 years ago was starting to wane. About a year ago, he decided to put the business up for sale.
Antosiewicz, who worked for Lovering for 10 years before taking another job five years ago, thought his longtime boss was kidding when he suggested that Antosiewicz should buy the bakery. When he realized that Lovering was serious, he started to think about the proposition.
“It was something I always wanted to do in the back of my mind,” Antosiewicz said. “But I never thought the opportunity would come up. I knew a lot of the clientele here already, so I thought ‘Well, this would probably be a good place to start.”’
During their time owning the bakery, the Loverings were known for hiring local high school students to work in the shop. Antosiewicz was one of those high school students, who started as a dishwasher, after he moved to Exeter from Brooklyn, New York. After he had been with the bakery for a little while, Jud began teaching him how to bake. He started with the breads, then moved onto rolls and then onto pastries.
“Anthony was a very good mixer,” Lovering said, adding that the mixer is responsible for making sure the exact proportions of ingredients necessary for good baking were ready. “That’s the most important job.”
Antosiewicz stayed at the bakery for 10 years, during which he eventually took over the shop with the Loverings were away on vacation. “He knows the ins and outs of the bakery trade,” Lovering said.
The two men worked many long 12 to 14 hour days baking together over the years during times like holidays. Antosiewicz recalled one very busy year when Lovering seemed to stay at the bakery for days without going home.
Five years ago, Antosiewicz took a new job working in the boiler plant at Phillips Exeter Academy. He jokes that he was hired “because I was small enough to get inside the boilers to clean them.”
He put in his last day at PEA last week and has been busy renovating the inside of the bakery space with the help of his father, also named Anthony, a retired police officer from Brooklyn, New York.
Longtime customers of the bakery can take comfort in knowing that all of the specialty pastries and muffins including the trademark cinnamon buns with orange cream cheese icing will remain.
Antosiewicz is bringing the bakery back to its roots in that he will offer the baked goods and bread, coffee and specialty cakes. He is not offering full breakfast as the bakery has done in recent times. He also plans to offer sandwiches for lunch and is installing a free wireless access point for people who would like to use their laptops at the bakery.
Barber Jim Ryan, who has been a neighbor to the bakery space since 1964, said this is the fourth business he has seen open up in the space, which was previously Ceceila’s European Bread and Bakery before it became the Baker’s Peel. Ryan said he will miss Lovering’s frequent trips to the shop where he always livened up the conversation among patrons with his political views.
“He’s been a great neighbor,” Ryan said. “I am going to miss them all, the two kids, Susanne and him.”
St. Anthony’s Bakery is scheduled to open early next week and will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“I’m just looking forward to opening the doors up and having the customers come in,” Antociewicz said. “I’m not looking forward to making a lot of money; I’m really looking forward to serving the community.”

Adam Roberge Walking to Raise Funds for Programs for The Blind

2009-04-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

I first met Adam Roberge a number of years back when I taught therapeutic horseback riding in Newfields. Adam was born blind. My first memory of meeting him was his amazing memory. He could recite off the top of his head the type, model and year of every car that the people at the barn drove, as well as the cars of his teachers, friends and family.
Adam has been a top fund-raiser for several events benefitting the blind and visually impaired over the years. At one point he did a blog: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/support/adamsblog

I just received an email from Adam with news that he is prepapring to walk in the Vision 5K Event on June 5.

Here's the info:
I just recently signed up to participate in the Vision 5K event on June 7 and I want you to join my team! I need you to join my team! This event raises money for four charities right here in Massachusetts whose mission is to raise funds to provide much needed services for blind and visually impaired children and adults. Annually these organizations touch the lives of thousands of men, women and children and help them each achieve literacy and independence.I am asking you to help by supporting my fund-raising efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of many! You can make your donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. If you would prefer, you can also send your tax-deductible contribution to the address below. Any amount, great or small, helps in the fight. I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.Thanks in advance for sharing my Vision!
His page:

http://www.vision5k.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1002382&pg=personal&fr_id=1050&et=-zmmFYwx_jYL22x6BWrTZw..&s_tafId=1100

A New Brunch Option in Town

2009-04-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday that my grandmother, Will and I go to church, we try to have breakfast or brunch. Up until now, there's been no real middle ground. Either regular inexpensive breakfast or enormous, more expensive, brunch at the Exeter Inn (really only for special occasions).

Now, we have another option, that's in the middle, you can also get a mimosa if you'd like, and a nice setting. For the past 2 weeks, we've headed down to 11 Water Street, which is now doing a Sunday brunch. What a great idea.

They've got omelette's that are a bit more dressed up that the usual (such as a lobster one), along with homemade corned beef hash, and homemade muffins. Will requested the banana muffin this week and I had to hold myself back from eating his entire muffin, it was delicious.

You can check out the menu for brunch on their web site:

http://www.11waterstreet.com/brunch.htm

Pimento's Doing Lunch Now

2009-04-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

I helped my husband out with a project last week and in turn he took me out to lunch. We checked out Pimento's which just started offering lunch and it was a nice change of pace. A nice place to get a nice lunch, perhaps a cocktail, and enjoy a quiet moment during the day.

These guys have also been pretty creative in this economy (as many restaurants struggle) by offering nightly specials during the week such as burger night and prime rib night.

You can check out the menu here:

http://www.pimentosrestaurantandlounge.com/

Baker's Peel Changing Hands

2009-04-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the sign in the window of the Baker's Peel downtown. It says they are closed for renovations, which is the case, sort of.
But please stay tuned for a full story on this.

I learned last week that the longtime owners of the Baker's Peel downtown, Jud and Susanne Lovering, are finalizing a sale of the bakery. I understand from Jud that the space will remain a bakery under the new owners who plan to call it St. Anthony's Bakery or something to that effect.

UPDATE: I've finished an interview with Jud and the new owner Anthony and it's actually a nice human interest story here. Anthony worked under Jud for 10 years before taking on another job. He started there in high school washing dishes and worked up to baking bread, then pastries, and then even running the place when Jud and Susanne were on vacation.

So the answer to my question about the cinnamon buns has been answered--they will remain. In fact, most of the pastries that we've all grown to love (though my thighs have not) will be there and Anthony has already been making them for years and knows the recipes. He is not going to do the full breakfast that's been there for the past year or so, but is returning to doing the baked goods, cakes, and simple sandwiches for lunch.

Stay tuned for a full story, but here's one tidbit from a longtime friend of Jud and Susanne--their business neighbor, longtime barber Jim Ryan. Ryan, who has seen 4 businesses in the space next door since he's been a barber, was quick to tell me that he and the other men at the shop will miss Jud's visits and his political discussions. (Though somehow I am sure Jud will still be stopping in for those Jim...)

Better Cell Coverage in Town

2009-04-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

This just came my way today. I have always complained about reception in my neighborhood off Route 85, so was happy to see this.

From Verizon:

Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site in Exeter, New Hampshire. The new cell site provides increased wireless voice and 3G coverage along Route 85, Route 101 and Route 111a in western Exeter, as well as the surrounding areas.

Verizon Wireless, originally the first wireless provider to offer 3G speeds, today has the largest and most reliable 3G network coverage area in the United States, giving customers with notebook computers or smartphones the ability to:
· Browse the web faster with quicker page loading times
· Quickly download and play music
· Watch streaming video
· Send emails with attachments
· Download and play 3D games
· Video conference with your contacts
· Rapidly share files

“Verizon Wireless’ 3G network coverage across New England is unparalleled,” said director for Network System Performance for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright. “We’ve invested billions of dollars into New England believing that even the most sophisticated cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on. Our continued aggressive network investments provide customers with a 3G network advantage at home and on vacation.”
The company has invested more than $50 billion since its inception to increase the wireless voice and data coverage of its national network and to add new 3G services like Mobile Broadband and V CAST. Regionally the company has invested more than $2.4 billion into its New England network over the past nine years, including $240 million in 2008 alone. As the carrier with America's largest and most reliable wireless network, Verizon Wireless cell sites in New England provide 3G wireless data connectivity.

New England: Myth or Reality?

2009-04-01T10:36:00.001-07:00

New England: Myth or Reality?

Exeter, New Hampshire – Layers of myth-making are responsible for a New England (both real and imagined) that has its roots in romantic idealism and hard-nosed pragmatism. How to sort through it? One way is to investigate the work of the myth-makers: Robert Frost, Wallace Nutting, Norman Rockwell, and Yankee Magazine. They comprise the people and institutions as responsible for the tourists as the legends.

Join the Exeter Historical Society on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm (with refreshments at 7 p.m.), for a presentation by Edie Clark, entitled “New England: Myth or Reality”. The program will take place at the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public. This program is generously sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335, info@exeterhistory.org, www.exeterhistory.org.

Exeter Family Needs Home After Fire

2009-03-31T16:01:00.000-07:00

Exeter Family Not Sure Where to Turn After Fire
By Lara Bricker
Special to the Union Leader
EXETER__Sharon and Allan Welch are not sure where to turn after a devastating fire destroyed their mobile home Monday afternoon.
“After Thursday, we don’t really know where we’re going to go,” Sharon, 50, said Tuesday afternoon.
The Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross was able to provide temporary housing through Thursday for the couple, their teenage daughter, two dogs and one cat. But after that, the family says they are at a loss for what they will do.
Allan, 51, who works on construction, has been out of work for several months and unable to find a new job, his wife said. Every place that he has applied to for a job has told the local man to return in the spring. Sharon, who works as a LNA at Riverwoods at Exeter, was the sole provider for the family, but says they were just making ends meet with her income.
The family had insurance on their home but it will only pay off the mortgage on the house, not provide funds for them to rebuild. So while they do own the lot at 15 Icy Hill Road where the home sat, they say as of now they don’t have the funds to rebuild there.
Sharon’s older daughter, who is 29, lives in Exeter but with several children of her own does not have any space. A group of the couple’s neighbors are meeting Tuesday evening to talk about how the community can come together to help the family in the aftermath of the fire. At this time, a relief fund has not been established for the family.
Allan was at home when the fire started just after 2 p.m. Monday afternoon in a back bedroom. Fire officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation but they do not believe it is suspicious.
Allan escaped the house with the Shitzu and Puggle dogs, but could not find the family’s cat, Autumn. After the fire was extinguished, the cat amazingly came out alive, Sharon said.
“The cat came flying out one of the windows, she seems to be okay,” she said.
Sharon, who was at work at the time, came home to find her home and all of the contents, including family photos, completely destroyed.
“I was completely devastated,” she said. “I never realized a fire could do that much damage—there’s nothing left.”
Doug Hewitt, Emergency Services Director for the Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the agency was able to provide for the family’s immediate needs like housing, clothes and food. They also provided care packets with items like toothbrushes and shampoo.
“All disasters have some sort of an impact on a family,” Hewitt said. “It was very, very difficult for them.”

Comfort Food in Tough Times?

2009-03-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for Tuesday's Exeter News-Letter where I interviewed Bill Thibeault, owner of the Humble Pie on Lincoln Street, about the increase in popularity of comfort food in these tough times. Apparently meatloaf is flying out of their coolers faster than they can make it up.

Who Drew That Doggie in The Window?

2009-03-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

Have you been curious about the paintings along the windows of the new Szanton block building on Water Street? So have I. It turns out they are done by local artist Christine Waniak, who did the dog art on this post. Waniak is hosting an open house/reception this Friday and Saturday in the space. She invites people to come down, see the artwork and watch her actually work on some pieces.

She describes her work as follows:

"Know for my fine detail I have been very proficient as a muralist and also canvas work. Currently working on a book that I am both writing and illustrating. The most common comment I receive about my work is that "it makes me smile", I hope that was your experience too."

For more information about Christine or to see some of her work go to:

http://www.artbreak.com/christinewaniak

Arjay's = Business of the Year

2009-03-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Arjay Ace Hardware Named Business of the Year
Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce Honors Store for Volunteerism,
Exceptional Customer Service, Green Practices and More

Exeter, NH – The Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce has named Arjay Ace Hardware as Business of the Year, based on the store’s commitment to community outreach, exceptional customer service, top-quality products, environmentally-friendly business practices and more.

“We’re thrilled to be part of such a wonderful community, surrounded by extraordinary business owners and sup ported by our loyal customers. It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers in the community and to receive this prestigious award,” said Dan Jackson, owner of Arjay Ace Hardware. “Our mission is to provide convenience, exceptional customer service, a knowledgeable and friendly team, premium products and an unwavering commitment to the community,” Jackson continued. “We pride ourselves on making each customer feel important and valued.”

Jackson and the Arjay Ace Hardware team were also recognized for their devotion to the community. Jackson and his wife, Arjay’s co-owner, Mandy Jackson, have donated significant time and resources to community projects, including the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, the Festival of Trees, the Ultimate Sports Raffle, the Exeter and Greenland school systems and the Acorn School of Stratham, among others.

Their staff members are committed to giving back to the community, as well, volunteering with the Coast Guard, emergency management teams and as local firefighters. Additionally, they dedicate time to local churches, committees, events and organizations that are personally meaningful.

The store’s annual Ladies’ Night event has become increasingly popular in the Exeter area, and Jackson recently added a food drive component to the festivities. Attendees enjoy product discounts, fabulous door prizes, refreshments, free gift wrapping and can also contribute food to needy families in our area.

Store owner Dan Jackson was presented with the Business of the Year award at a reception=2 0on March 12.

“Dan Jackson works hard to be an industry leader, and is well-respected among his staff, peers, vendors and Ace Hardware management. He is also well-liked and highly admired within the Exeter community,” said Thom Kraus, President of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce. “It was our great pleasure and honor to present him with the Business of the Year award.”

“Dan and I look forward to serving the needs of our community – and our valued customers – for many years to come,” said Mandy Jackson, co-owner of the store.

Jackson holds himself, his store and his staff to the highest standards, which is why the store has consistently won Vision 21 Awards, Ace Hardware’s highest ratings, every year since they joined the Ace Hardware cooperative in 1999.

Arjay Ace Hardware is located at 55 Lincoln Street in Exeter.

Arjay Ace Hardware is a fourth-generation family-owned store that has served the Exeter community for 25 years. They carry the finest brands, including Benjamin Moore paint, Weber, Carhartt, Ace brand and much more, and many of these products come with a lifetime guarantee. Arjay A ce Hardware employees take great pride in their work, offering exceptional customer service and friendly, knowledgeable advice. In fact, the award-winning Arjay Ace Hardware has been consistently named one of Ace Hardware’s premiere stores.

Renewable Energy Forums Planned in Exeter and Dover

2009-03-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

RENEWABLE ENERGY INFORMATION SESSION
Free and Open to the Public
March 17 (Tuesday) 6:00PM Exeter Public Library Meeting Room
March 24 (Tuesday) 6:00PM Dover Public Library Meeting Room

Recent legislation will make renewable energy systems more affordable for New Hampshire residents. The PUC’s Renewable Energy Fund will provide direct financial support for qualified solar electric and solar hot water systems and is intended to help move the State toward its goal of 25% renewable generation by 2025 (see RSA 362-F). When the new state funds are combined with federal tax credits, and other utility rebate programs, the upfront costs of a solar hot water (SHW), solar photovoltaic (PV), or wood-pellet boiler system are greatly reduced. In addition to being a sound environmental choice, these systems represent a real investment value, in the face of fluctuating energy prices and formerly stable stock markets. ReVision Energy LLC has amassed considerable experience in fitting solar and wood-pellet boiler technologies to homes, businesses, and municipalities across Maine and New Hampshire. Solar electric, solar thermal, and wood-biomass represent three of the most efficient and reliable renewable energy systems currently available. This presentation aims to provide details on the environmental, financial, and policy aspects of transitioning away from fossil fuel energy to clean and sustainable renewable energy.

Sponsored by the Exeter Energy Committee

A Day of Voting and Dirty Dancing

2009-03-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

I stopped to vote this afternoon and was told by those out in front of the polls that voter turnout was way down. I hope people get out the vote! It's your chance to be heard...

(And if you're really lucky you'll be interviewed by the Fox 25 News crew camped out down there).

They want to hear about Dirty Dancing debate at the high school.

For those not up on the debate, check out the story about Exeter's own Footloose click here

Head Over Heels Closes Up Shop

2009-03-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

So, I was walking along Water Street over the weekend to pick up a sandwich at Billingsgate when I saw the sign that Head over Heels is going out of business. I was shocked. The place has been there for quite a number of years.
I guess the shoe business isn't what it used to be, especially for the higher quality type of shoes sold there. Too bad.
I hear that a cosmetic store is coming in to the space?? I should mention that I wear make up about twice a year.. but.. still I was a little surprised. Is there that a big of a market for make up? I guess we'll see.
In the meantime, I am the proud new owner of the shiny patent red leather clogs that I have admired in the window of Head Over Heels for the past six months. They were one of only a handful of shoes left on Saturday, how could I not try them on? Turns out they were just my size.
Now I just have to figure out a place to wear them. (My husband suggested Halloween)

Meet Ugly the Cat--Our Local Celebrity

2009-03-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZjyBsH29zM

History for Kids

2009-03-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

The Exeter Historical Society will be offering a local history enrichment course geared towards students aged 9-11 who have an interest in history, beginning April 2nd at the Historical Society headquarters at 47 Front Street.
This series entitled, “Unlocking the Past: A Local History Enrichment Course”, will cover life in the Exeter area over the past 350 years. The course will meet on Thursdays at 3:45 for one hour per week for eight weeks, with the exception of the week of April school vacation.

The course will be taught by Deborah Kanner, a New Hampshire state certified teacher with a master’s degree in history. The cost is $75 per child, or $25 per child for those with a Family Membership to the Society.

The course will be based on the Exeter History Curriculum developed by Ms. Kanner under the auspices of Historic Exeter Associates (1997). Students will explore themes related to the history of New England using Exeter, New Hampshire, as a representative model. The focus will be on the study of local history as a means of enhancing the students’ understanding of economic, political, and social development over time. Students will also be encouraged to research their own local interests as a means of fostering appreciation for and involvement in their communities.

Primary sources, documents and artifacts will enable students to experience history in concrete terms. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate these sources in order to gain insight into the past. Utilizing the Exeter Historical Society’s collection will enhance this experiential learning. Sources referenced will include maps, photos, memorabilia, newspapers, and books. The building itself, and its location in downtown Exeter, will offer access to architecture and monuments as sources. This course will involve walking field trips in the immediate area of the Historical Society. Ms. Kanner will require the help of a few parents to help supervise these trips. Students’ classwork will be organized in a folder along with suggestions for further activities and field trips.
To enroll or for additional information, please contact Laura Gowing at the Exeter Historical Society at 603-778-2335 (or at info@exeterhistory.org).

Spaces Still Available on Nature Hike This Weekend

2009-02-24T17:31:00.000-08:00

February Footsteps
Saturday, February 28 · 9-11am · Newfields & Exeter

Guided by: Frank Mitchell, naturalist and recently-retired UNH Cooperative Extension Land and Water Conservation Specialist

Located at the confluence of the Piscassic River, Fresh Brook and Beech Hill Brook, and nestled amid several hundred acres of unfragmented conserved lands, these 450 acres are owned by NH Fish and Game with a conservation easement held by the Southeast Land Trust. We’ll walk or snowshoe to explore its uplands, learning about winter ecology while looking for animal tracks and signs.

This field trip is free and open to the public.
Registration is required -- please call 603-778-6088 or email kmccormack@seltnh.org. Directions will be provided to registrants.

11 Water Street starts Brunch (and more deals)

2009-02-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

Chip and Dorine Caswell at 11 Water Street are offering some great deals at the restaurant these days and have started working with Serendipity and the Inn by the Bandstand to offer discounts.

Also, they've started brunch on Sundays, which made me happy as I'm always looking for a new spot to eat after church with grammie and Will.

Check out the latest news at the downtown restauarant:

For the month of February... Dine with 11 Water Street and stay at the Inn by the Bandstand in Exeter and receive 20% off. Go to their web site to view their Valentine's Weekend package: http://www.innbythebandstand.com/.

THURSDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
Every THURSDAY is Ladies Night at Serendipity! Enjoy wine and cheese while shopping for your favorite eco-friendly fair trade items! For shopping at Serendipity of Exeter, you will receive 15% off at 11 Water Street! Go to their web site for more information: http://www.serendipityofexeter.com/.

Welcome Back Alex

2009-02-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

Local attorney Alex Yiokarinis is back with a new blog about legal questions and issues. Go check him out and say hey:

http://alexlegalese.blogspot.com/

The latest from www.seacoastparentsconnect.com

2009-02-22T11:00:00.001-08:00

From my blog at www.seacoastparentsconnect.com

So, we watched an alleged children’s movie with Willie this weekend and I’m sort of wondering if it was a bit too soon. Disney movies aren’t as sweet as they used to be I guess. Or I guess I never paid as much attention to age appropriate material and expressions and how they might be misconstrued by little ones. And I have also realized that children’s movies are no longer made just for children, but their parents as well. Have you noticed how many jokes in kid’s movies these days are really adult jokes, almost thrown in to make the adults feel like they too can enjoy a day at the movie with kids? We watched the Cars movie a few weeks back and I hate to admit, as an adult, I kind of liked it. Even my husband said, “That’s a pretty good movie….. for a cartoon.”
The latest movie event goes back to Christmas when Willie’s godfather Al gave him one of those singing cards. The card had Shrek on it and sang that “Hey now you’re an all-star” song made popular in the movie. Since then, the card has become worn, the song has worn out, but Willie continues to carry it with him everywhere. I thought it might be cute to let him watch some of the movie.
And so I headed out to Blockbuster in Stratham, rented it, and returned home for our big movie event.
Ok, so in the first five minutes there are a few off-color type jokes that are made, but I felt like they would have gone right over most kids’ heads. It seemed like they were almost geared toward the parents. But we carried on until the scary men with flaming pitch forks came to kill Shrek.
Fast forward.
We did okay until Shrek and his little Eddie Murphy donkey sidekick got to the castle to rescue the princess from the dragon--big scary flame breathing dragon.
Fast forward.
Okay, again until the Robin Hood guy comes and gets into a kung fu match with the princess.
Fast forward again.
Luckily, it seems that little kids don’t seem to notice all of these fast forwards, which you can make up a story about, like, ‘oh something was wrong with the DVD player’ and they buy it.
We made it through the movie, with many fast forwards, and I was starting to wonder if I had completely traumatized Willie.
He was fine, though obsessed with saying “Shreek” over and over again. And he has also taken to walking around the house with big exaggerated steps and saying in a deep voice, “I’m the bad king” before he gives off a “hahaha” evil laugh.
I think the Shrek video is going back tomorrow. But it got me wondering how many more of these so-called children’s movies I will have to fast forward through. I’m not saying they’re bad movies. But do we need to have a pre-screening of movies with the adults before we decide if they’re ok to show the kids?

What's it like to work at a weekly paper?

2009-02-19T10:33:00.001-08:00

Join the Exeter Historical Society on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 pm (with refreshments at 7 p.m.), for a presentation by Harry Thayer, entitled Running a Weekly Newspaper. The program will take place at the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public. Donations to help offset the cost of programming are always welcome and greatly appreciated.

Harry Thayer has a long personal history of working with the Exeter News-Letter. He worked from 1960 to 1970 as a linotype operator and was appointed general manager in 1970. Thayer served as the co-owner and co-publisher between 1973 and 1983, and was the editor, president and treasurer throughout most of the 1970s. He also was the business manager and president of Rockingham County Newspapers (owned by Ottaway Newspapers) in the 1980s. His presentation will focus on the greater "family" of co-workers at the Exeter News-Letter and the conversion from hot metal-letterpress to cold-type-offset printing interspersed with history and humor.

Exeter Dining Deals

2009-02-18T12:08:00.001-08:00

So I'm on this email list every week from the Taste Magazine. Lately they've been having this great deal where you get a $50 gift certificate to area restaurants for only $25. Up until now, the restaurants have all been out of the area (or my range of safe travel and get home in time for babysitter). But this week, the deal is at The Tavern at River's Edge in Exeter, one of my favs!

Check it out at:
http://www.tasteoftheseacoast.com/Taste-Deals/Taste-Deals.html

Fresh Veggies--Delivered!

2009-02-17T05:32:00.000-08:00

By Lara Bricker
HAMPTON__Jeffrey Schick is like an old fashioned milkman with a bit of a modern twist.
Instead of jugs of milk, Schick’s customers will receive a weekly selection of fresh organic fruit and vegetables delivered to their door. The 33-year-old Hampton man is set to begin delivering on the Seacoast the week of March 16 through his new business Waithaka Organics.
Customers can chose all fruit, all vegetables or a mix of both, but the actual selection will vary each week depending on what’s in season or available. Plans will start at $30 a week, which he felt was in line with the amount people spent in a $100 per week grocery bill on fruit and vegetables. The company will offer two price plans to start, the $30 per week or the $45 per week but customers can add on items like natural honey, handmade peanut butter or maple syrup if interested.
“We’re trying to replace what you would normally buy at the store with a delivery service, where we cut out all of the handling process of regular store bought produce,” he said.
By that, Schick said, he means the number of times that fruit and vegetables are handled and repacked from the time they are harvested. Most produce spends an average of four to six days on display in a grocery store before it is purchased, he said. “It is subject to artificial light for those four days. It is touched, sneezed on, coughed on and handled,” he said. “It’s just handled so much that it starts to lose its integrity and beyond that, it’s taste.”
Schick aims to cut that handling process down considerably and said all fruit and vegetables from Waithaka Organics will be handled by employees wearing gloves. “This fruit is handled with the respect it deserves,” he said.
While the concept of organic delivery is new on the Seacoast, it is one that is growing in popularity across the country, especially on the west coast. Schick sees part of his role as educating customers about the difference between the types of organic produce available today like certified organic versus certified naturally grown.
He is still growing his network of local suppliers and hopes to find a way to buy locally while still keeping the cost affordable for his customers.
He plans to use certified naturally grown fruit and vegetables from both local farmers and a wholesale organic source in Boston. “That’s the kind of produce we’re going to be buying,” he said. “It’s produce in its most natural form that you can buy.”
That certified naturally grown designation fits with Schick’s own philosophical approach to growing fresh fruit, using natural compost. “They are all-natural approaches to make sure you are buying the most naturally, wholly nutritious piece of produce on the market,” he said. “You do that by buying off of farmers that grow with a process that doesn’t involve pesticides or bureaucratic regulations.”
Customers won’t be able to pick exactly what they would like each week as Schick plans to buy in bulk in order to keep prices affordable. But he does plan to buy with his customers taste in mind. Each customer will fill out a questionnaire when they sign up for the service in which they give an idea of their preferences. Schick plans to use that to buy with an eye toward what the group as a whole likes, while offering certain staples each week such as lettuce. “I want to know all of these families and what they like to eat and what they don’t like,” he said.
If there is a week where a more unusual fruit or vegetable is included in the reusable plastic tote each customer receives, he plans to include a recipe suggestion for the food. “We want people to get creative from a culinary standpoint,” Schick said. “We’re going to try to mix it up.”
The new venture is a huge career shift for Schick who has worked as a financial planner in Portsmouth since 2002. He became “disheartened” by the current scene on Wall Street, and knew he needed to make a lifestyle change. “I realized very quickly I was in something I didn’t feel was an honest business,” he said.
He spent last summer apprenticing under organic farmer Dick Wollmar in North Hampton and knew he’d found his calling. “The farming is really where my heart is, working on the land, working with the land,” he said, adding his long-term goal is to grow all of the food he delivers himself. “Our connection with the earth is something we should be focused on in an every day basis.”
For more information, call 800-714-4147 or e-mail jeff@waithakafarm.com. The company website http://www.waithakafarm.com/ is currently under construction and should be online in the near future.

Stress Management Workshops for Women

2009-02-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

Women and Stress Management
The staff of Atlantic Complementary has been hearing lots of stories lately about stressful events in women's lives. We've decided to do our part to help manage this stress.During the month of March, we are offering 4 workshops which will include an information session, discussion and a group hypnosis session on a topic that women will find useful.
If you are local to Hampton, NH, I hope you'll sign up and attend.If your group or company would like these workshops provided to your members or employers please call.
Guys, if you want equal time in the form of male discussion groups, please be in touch. I am very happy to provide them.

Click here to download our Flyer - PDF

Sharon M. O'Connor, RN,
CEO Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions, LLC2
Dearborn Avenue
Hampton, NH 03842
888-441-3332

Party in the Downtown of Exeter

2009-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Seacoast residents now have a new and unique nightlife option available to them in the form of the “Flush” Funk & Fashion series.
Combining a fashion show with a live concert performance, and beer, wine & food tastings with DJ sets, TVP Records founder Scott Ruffner has created a seamless 3 hour experience featuring a variety of homegrown businesses and artistic talents.
An Exeter native, Ruffner (aka Sir Buck) is an award-winning music producer, DJ and songwriter known for his original funky sound. He recently released a new compilation CD, also called "Flush", featuring some of the area’s top musicians including members of The Head and The Press Project.
“When the album was finished, I knew we had something special,” said Ruffner, “but I knew it would be difficult to present the music live in a traditional nightclub setting, not to mention the fact that the format itself is all but extinct.”
The CD was quickly well-received, with The Wire calling it “Part Sly Stone and Parliament Funkadelic, part Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, part R. Kelly and Gangstarr, the music on "Flush" pays tribute to the genres of soul and hip-hop with contemporary takes on 1970s fare.....Each repeated listen enhances appreciation of its comic funk and soulful hip-hop musicology. ” Lofty praise for sure, but Ruffner still knew he’d need a fresh idea to draw people in.
Thinking of ways to promote the project, he remembered a few fashion shows he was involved with during his time in Minneapolis when his band Vanguard performed with runway models at Prince’s Glam Slam and the famed First Avenue nightclub. He quickly realized that foundation would be a perfect fit for combining the original funky grooves of “Flush” and the ubiquitous trend of Facebook photo-op nightlife. He had already spoken with local designer Lisa Cantalupo (Sexy Skins) about collaborating, but after a conversation with Dana DeNiro, owner of Luna Chics in Exeter, Ruffner knew the idea could also serve as a good promotional opportunity for area boutiques.
“Retailers really like the idea of showcasing their fashions directly to potential customers -- and they have a lot of fun at the event.”
Area salons also jumped at the chance to offer their hair & makeup services for the shows. In addition to music and fashion, some of the events will also include food, wine and beer tasting.
"In these tough economic times, people are forced to be choosy about how they spend their discretionary income. We're giving them a chance to come out and groove to some great music, check out some cool fashions, and sample some first rate food and drinks. On top of that, there’s prize drawings and giveaways — now that’s some bang for your buck!" said Ruffner.
The first show of the series was held in November downstairs at the now closed Ioka Theater and was a sellout with dozens of people turned away. Positive proof that if an event is worth the time and money, people in the Seacoast will come out and support locally based entertainment.
The Flush series will be rockin’ The Exeter Town Hall the night before Valentine’s Day on February 13th, as well as upcoming dates in Boston, Newburyport and Manchester.

Now that's a bad day

2009-01-29T15:15:00.000-08:00

I heard there was a house collapse this morning, so decided to take a drive by on Union Street. I was on the phone with a friend when I arrived and boy did he get an earful. "HOLY $$$" I gasped when I saw that it was not just a roof, but the entire house. I guess the place was under renovation and vacant, which is a good thing, but yikes. I hope they had insurance... it's a total loss, according to our town building inspector.

The River Film

2009-01-27T09:16:00.001-08:00

Shrimp, Shrimp, Shrimp.

2009-01-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

New Venue for Buying Fresh Seafood Direct from New Hampshire Fishermen

By Charlie French and Ken LaValley

Residents of New Hampshire's seacoast region can now purchase locally and sustainably-caught shrimp and lobster direct from local fishermen at the Winter Farmers' Markets.

With shrimp and lobster prices at near 20-year lows, this is just the boost that local fishermen need.New Hampshire's rich history in commercial fishing has helped to shape the state's character and sense of community. In fact, commercial fishing has been a vital component of the state's economy for over two centuries and has grown to a multi-million dollar industry in New Hampshire employing approximately 100 commercial fishermen. Equally important, recent economic studies based on National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) data suggests that New Hampshire's seafood industry has lead to the creation of approximately 250 jobs in other sectors including food processing, tourism, restaurants, boatyards, etc.

However, the seafood industry is at a critical juncture that will determine its future viability. On the one hand, fishing regulations aimed at protecting declining fish stocks have made it difficult for commercial fishermen to turn a profit. Couple this with rock-bottom prices for shrimp and lobster, commercial fishermen worry that their livelihood is in jeopardy.

The question is; how can the shrimp and lobster industries sustain the resource and increase profits from fish sales?

The answer may lie in establishing direct markets for local and sustainably-caught seafood.This winter, the Yankee Seafood Co-op, based out of Seabrook, New Hampshire, will begin selling shrimp and lobster direct to consumers at Winter Farmers' Markets sponsored by Seacoast Eat Local.

As Bob Campbell, Manager of the co-op explains, the idea is to build stronger links between the commercial fishermen and local fresh markets and area restaurants. And what better venue than a farmers' market where a variety of locally produced foods can be purchased.If you are interested in purchasing locally-caught seafood, below are the dates and locations of upcoming farmers markets where pre-packaged shrimp will be available in the Seacoast:•

Saturday, February 7th from 10am-2pm at 21 Front Street, Exeter, New Hampshire• Saturday, Saturday, March 7, 10am-2pm at Stratham Town Hall, Stratham, New Hampshire

More information about these winter farmers' markets is available at http://www.seacoasteatlocal.org/

Exeter Grad Dies in Afghanistan

2009-01-15T14:28:00.001-08:00

I spent today working on a story about a story about Brian Mescall, an Exeter High grad, who was killed in Afghanistan. He had a young son, shown in the photo with him here, which is just heartbreaking.

Read the story here:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090115-NEWS-90115020

Closing the Chapter on a Long Run of Public Service

2009-01-15T05:08:00.001-08:00

Harry Thayer has retired from the fire department after 45 years. Thayer was most recently the deputy chief in charge of the call firefighters. A lot has changed since he first joined the department, including gear, politics, personnel and firefighting techniques. (Oh yeah and Brewitt's is no longer running the ambulance service in a hearse...)

I'm working up a full story about Harry for the newspaper, so stay tuned.

But here's one little tidbit I didn't have space to include.. sort of the expose on Harry Thayer. I heard from another retired firefighter this morning that Harry once had a career as a race car driver, but that he didn't want his father to know, so he raced under a fake name. I called around to find out the race name before going back to the source, Harry. His race name was Harry Hanson. In addition to the fact that he didn't want his dad to find out what he was up to, the announcer couldn't say Thayer well, so Hanson was easier on many fronts.

LINK TO STORY: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090116-NEWS-901160335

New England Stone Walls

2009-01-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

Join the Exeter Historical Society on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 pm (with refreshments at 7 p.m.), for a presentation by Kevin Gardner, entitled Discovering New England Stone Walls. The program will take place at the Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, Exeter, and is free and open to the public.

Kevin’s informal talk covers a few of the main topics of his book about New England stone walls, The Granite Kiss, touching on history, technique, stylistic development, and aesthetics. He explains how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, the ways in which they and other dry stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time and their significance to the famous New England landscape. Other topics may include: differences in approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders, a discussion of restoration tips and techniques, and information about design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis. Short readings from the book may also be included. Along the way, Kevin occupies himself by building a miniature wall or walls on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket. He often brings along his collection of books about stonework, and copies of The Granite Kiss will be available for sale.

Since the publication of The Granite Kiss in October 2001, Kevin has presented his program at dozens of historical societies, bookstores, and town libraries all over New England, including Canterbury Shaker Village, the NH Historical Society, Castle in the Clouds, Old Sturbridge Village, Boston's Arnold Arboretum, and many, many more.

The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335, info@exeterhistory.org, http://www.exeterhistory.org/.

2009-01-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

The Meals on Wheels Issue

2009-01-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

So I guess I haven't been paying close enough atttention to this whole Meals on Wheels issue. I received a call today from a concerned citizen who felt that there was some misinformation, or lack of information, about exactly what the decision by the Board of Selectmen not to fund $ for the program means.
I was under the impression that the entire funding for Meals on Wheels had been cut. Apparently, this is not the case.
I have a 91 year old grandmother who lives with me and know that elderly folks are not as good about making food for themselves as they once were. Most days, my gram would sit around and eat toast and tea alone if we didn't cook her dinner. So when I thought that the program had been cut entirely, I was feeling very badly for the many elderly people in town who receive a hot meal each day from Meals on Wheels. Well, they are still going to get the meals. The part of the funding that was cut was for transportation services offered through the program. There is a line in the story in today's paper clarifying this.
Transportation for the elderly is a whole other issue and I have been involved with this as well due to my grandmother who no longer drives. We have several options for senior transportation in town, but I have to say I'm always a little confused about which program takes you where, which costs how much and so on. The new taxi from Graham's Sunoco will take elderly folks around and the Lamprey Health van will take them out to doctors and shopping and so on. I believe the transportation through Meals on Wheels is one my grandmother used a few times that utilitzes volunteer drivers to take elderly to appointments around town. It would be nice if we had a clear listing (including specifics on each program) of these services in one location for the town's elderly as it is really confusing to try to track them all down individually.
The latest story in the paper outlines the specifics:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090113-NEWS-901130355

Thinking of Spring

2009-01-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Dover Cassily Community Garden is hosting a free, public gardenworkshop featuring Garen Heller of Back River Farm (Dover) on Saturday, January 17th from 9:30-11:30 at the McConnell Center (Room#2).
The workshop is open to community members of all ages. Theworkshop topics will include what seeds to buy, starting seed, andimportant considerations to make for your own garden preparations.Whether you are interested in basic gardening "how-to's" or moretechnical details, this workshop will give you the opportunity to haveyour questions answered, meet other garden enthusiasts, and learn moreabout the Dover Cassily Community Garden.
Light refreshments will be served. Event will be held snow or shine.

Please register by email todoverccgarden@yahoo.com.

The face behind a downtown revitalization

2009-01-11T04:13:00.000-08:00

By lara bricker
news@seacoastonline.com
January 11, 2009 6:00 AM
When the other 8-year-old children in his neighborhood were outside playing, Elliott Berkowitz's parents found him tucked away reading.
It was not a classic children's story they found in the hands of their son outside on the porch in his Queens, N.Y., home, but rather the United Farm Agency catalogue. He was reading up on land and farms for sale.
"I was always very entrepreneurial," said the 63-year-old Exeter man who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
He would have liked to have forged his path in adulthood in keeping with his favorite game, Monopoly, buying up land and developing it with buildings. But his parents urged their son to consider a more secure future, as a police officer, like his father who was a captain in the New York Police Department. The younger Berkowitz spent 15 years and four days working in the narcotics division of the NYPD, before he retired.
Almost 25 years later, Berkowitz had harnessed the entrepreneurial spirit from his youth to run a successful real estate development company, the Pairpoint Group, with his wife Nancy Phillips. Their offices are now based in downtown Exeter.
Since the fall of 2004, the couple has purchased three downtown Water Street properties and renovated them, which many local observers point to as breathing new life into a portion of the downtown long due for a boost. The first two buildings now house five upscale shops, tenants that were handpicked by Berkowitz.
"I think it was definitely a revitalization of that whole area," said Steve Goren, the membership director for the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce. "Just having five shops that are quality, destination-type shops; it revitalized not just that part of Water Street, but the whole downtown." CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE STORY

Not All Ice Is Equal

2009-01-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

I spent about 20 minutes this morning chipping the 2+ inches of ice off my car from the big storm yesterday. I did have a traditional ice scraper, but resorted to the metal mini garden shovel which really helped chip the pieces off a bit faster. We made out better than I expected with the storm yesterday, but I think everyone is so jumpy after the last storm/power outage that we were all expecting the end of the world or something. I can say none of us will ever be unprepared for a storm again. Which of course means that we won't see a storm like we did in December of 2008 for another 20 years..
For those tired of the weather already, check out the link to the Key West Web Cam:
http://webcam.keywest.com/
Think of it like those people who put videos of fireplaces on their tv during holiday parties or something.

Maine, the Way Life Should Be?

2009-01-06T13:51:00.001-08:00

January 05, 2009 8:45 AM
VASSALBORO, Maine (AP) — A one-time motel in a small central Maine town could soon be offering an eye-opening way to start the day — topless coffee shop waitresses.
The Vassalboro Planning Board on Tuesday will consider a business permit request for a topless coffee shop at the site of the former Grand View Motel on busy Route 3.
The one-story building has also been the home to several other business ventures, most recently Mac Daddy's Pub at the Fat Cat Grille, which closed three or four years ago.
Neighbors have mixed opinions. Some say Vassalboro is a rural town and that a topless coffee shop would bring the wrong crowd. But others say they'd like to see a business make a go of it there.
Donald Crabtree of Ellsworth, who has applied for the business permit, told the Kennebec Journal that he didn't want to discuss his plan until after the planning board meets

It Must Really Be The New Year... if

2009-01-06T10:19:00.001-08:00

From www.seacoastparentsconnect.com

I have just returned from the gym. I know, stereotypical New Year’s event, the tourist season at all of the area fitness clubs. Though for me, it wasn’t really a New Year’s resolution type thing, but a realization that I have gotten into a pretty good and regular routine, which if often hard when you work for yourself from home, and that I could maybe start to expand in the middle of the day when I take a break from writing, by going and walking on the treadmill at the gym. (And no this has nothing to do with the fact that my husband kindly, or rather sarcastically, told me last fall that I was “supremely” out of shape when I announced I was going to go out riding with the local fox hunt). He was right and the gym, The Great Bay Athletic Club, is only five minutes from my house. And oh yes, I still had some guest passes from the 10 pass coupon I bought a while back. Turns out, my memory has gone some since Mommydom. A while back was actually right after Willie was born. That would be two and a half years ago. And apparently these guest packs are only good for a year.
I lured myself over to the gym with the thought of watching TV while I walked on the treadmill as each treadmill has individual (cable) TV. Hooray. Too bad in the two and a half years since I last entered the place I’ve lost my headphones.
And so it was off to Staples in Stratham on the way to the Great Bay Athletic Club in Newmarket for headphones. No generic, old-fashioned headphones seems to exist anymore and so I ended up with a little pair that just slip into your ears.
The gym is still standing where it was the last time I entered, but they’ve done some remodeling. And they got new treadmills, though still with the fancy personal TV’s. There were a few scary moments while I tried to figure out the new treadmill operation system, which seemed to require about as much skill as turning on the controls in the cockpit of an airplane, and I was off. It was just me and Food TV. And a few way too skinny fit people who were (gasp) running on the treadmill as opposed to my walking. There was also a warning sign up on the window in front of me that cautioned that I could get shocked through my headphones due to the dry static of the winter air. Great, just one more hurdle to clear on the way to physical fitness. Maybe a little shock might boost up my workout a bit, you know, really kick me into high gear when I was slacking off on the incline or something.
I made it through a whopping 30 minutes on the treadmill, watched Paula Deen make something with butter, butter and more butter, and left feeling good about seeing the inside of the gym again.
I know it’s not much, but sometimes baby steps aren’t just for our children, they’re for mommy too.

Another one on the Way?

2009-01-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

My friend Jason is a bit obsessed with the weather but I think this time, he might be right. There's another storm headed out way tomorrow and it could bring more ice. Yes, you heard correctly, more ice.

Here's the forecast:

Tonight (Tuesday): A chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: Snow before 1pm, then rain. High near 34. East wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain before 1am, then sleet likely. Low around 26. North wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of snow, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. West wind between 11 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

I usually brush off these storm warnings and laugh at the people at the store stocking up on water and batteries and all that stuff when they hear a storm in the forecast. I think everyone can safely say after the Ice Storm of 2008, we will never be unprepared again.

We are now the proud owners of a generator, thanks to a sale at the Seabrook Home Depot, and I have a new inverter plug for my cigarette lighter in my car to run my laptop or whatever else can safely run off one plug. My lovely neighbor Sharon, who was struck by my coffee addiction that I made public during the last storm, arrived at my door this morning with a french press so that I could make real coffee throughout any outage.

And the old lady horses are ready to rock with a big giant bale of hay and almost overflowing tub of water, should we lose water again.

Check out the latest forecast through this link to the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine:

Mental Health Impact (and Tips)

2008-12-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

By Lara Bricker
news@seacoastonline.com
December 18, 2008 6:00 AM
Tempers are flaring, patience is wearing thin and the stress of the situation is becoming too much to bear for some people still without power after last Thursday's ice storm.
"People are needing to decompress," said Ellen McFarland, a staff therapist at Seacoast Mental Health, who works in Portsmouth and Exeter. "It's perfectly normal at this point to be feeling the way they're feeling."

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081218-NEWS-812180417

Kensington Still In the Dark

2008-12-18T04:54:00.001-08:00

By Lara Bricker
news@seacoastonline.com
December 17, 2008 2:00 PM
KENSINGTON — Electric crews from Tennessee arrived in Kensington Wednesday morning where local fire officials say 60 to 70 percent of the town is still without power.
Kensington Fire Chief Charlie LeBlanc said he was told that power would be restored by Wednesday night to most of the town, though he is skeptical about whether that will really happen. Route 107, the major road in town, was still without power Wednesday.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081217-NEWS-81217039

I lived through the outage without canned ham

2008-12-18T04:51:00.000-08:00

By Lara Bricker
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
December 16, 2008 6:00 AM
Day four of no electricity and I have not yet resorted to eating a canned ham. I've eaten ravioli, soup, grilled sausages from my freezer cooked on a mini-barbecue grill, bad instant coffee and potato chips. But, no, I did not eat the canned ham.
Why the fixation with the canned ham? Well, there I was Friday morning inside Market Basket with a crowd of stunned people like myself who were completely unprepared for the storm. It was dark in the store, the dairy and meat coolers were blocked off, and people were running around like I envision we would if under a terrorist attack. I felt like I was a looter after a hurricane. And then I heard the voice over a makeshift loud speaker "we have canned hams, canned hams by the deli counter."
I was sure I could survive the storm by eating Chef Boyardee, soup and sandwiches. I told the deli guy I was taking a pass on the canned ham.
"Lady, by tomorrow you're going to be begging for the canned ham," he told me.
More like begging for real coffee.
I didn't think of myself as an addict before this storm, but I know now that I need those two cups first thing in the morning. Of course, I figured I would just drive off to Dunkin' Donuts in Stratham or Exeter and get a cup. I had no idea what awaited for me outside. My friend Jason called as I was about to drive out of my driveway.
Don't drive anywhere, he told me, there's trees falling all over the place, what are you crazy? It's worse than the ice storm of 1998, he said. Just then, some large branches came crashing down on my driveway. I was starting to realize just how bad it was.
Click here for entire column: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081216-NEWS-812160345

Power Outage Brings Out Thief

2008-12-18T04:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081215-NEWS-81215052

Ice Storm Related Death

2008-12-18T04:49:00.000-08:00

By Lara Bricker
news@seacoastonline.com
December 15, 2008 3:05 PM
EPPING — An Epping man dependent on medical oxygen was found dead inside his home Sunday night.
The 60-year-old man had a battery backup for his oxygen, but the battery only worked for a limited amount of time, Epping Police Chief Greg Dodge said. A neighbor called police to ask them to check on him Sunday night.
Police responded to the 3 Mill Pond Road apartment at 9:15 p.m. Sunday and found the man lying on his bed, deceased, Dodge said. The man lived alone and no one had heard from him since Friday. The exact cause of death is not known, though it is suspected the lack of medical oxygen is to blame.
A medical surge shelter was opened inside the Epping Fire Department over the weekend with cooperation from the Epping and Exeter fire departments. That shelter was opened to care for people left without power who had health concerns, such as the need for medical oxygen. At the height of the power outage, the medical shelter in Epping was used by 10 to 12 people, according to fire officials.

Sunday of Ice Storm, Day 3

2008-12-18T04:48:00.001-08:00

By Lara Bricker
news@seacoastonline.com
December 15, 2008 1:38 PM
BRENTWOOD — A fireplace used to heat a home left without power during the ice storm may be to blame for a blaze that heavily damaged that home Sunday afternoon.
The Brentwood Fire Department was called to 82 Haigh Road at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, after the family that lived there returned home to find smoke coming from the house, Fire Chief Kevin Lemoine said.
Click here for rest of story:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081215-NEWS-81215035

Day 1 of the Ice Storm Power Outage

2008-12-18T04:45:00.001-08:00

By Lara Bricker
December 12, 2008 2:15 PM
STRATHAM — Shoppers maneuvered grocery carts through dark aisles inside Marketbasket Friday morning as they rushed out to get bottled water, candles and canned goods.
Instant coffee was sold out before 11 a.m. and store officials were also bringing in more bagged ice.
"It is kind of surreal," said Eileen Bichoff, of Stratham, of the scene inside the darkened store. Bichoff loaded up on bottled water and said she was not expecting the storm to be as severe as it became.
The Stratham store opened for business as usual Friday, but store officials had no idea how long they would remain open, according to Assistant Store Manager Dean Clevesy. The store was operating on a natural gas generator, which powered the doors, cash registers and minimal safety lights. Shaw’s Supermarket in Stratham and Stop and Shop were also open Friday morning.
All meats, dairy products and frozen foods were cordoned off and no available for purchase. Some perishable food was taken to a giant refrigerator at the rear of the store. Customers were able to buy gallons of milk, but most came out for bottled water, as they had no water without electrical power.
Clevesy arrived at the store at 3 a.m. Friday after receiving a call at his Exeter home about the power outage. He said his drive to the store in the wee hours of the morning was "very scary" with branches falling from the weight of ice all over the place. "It was kind of eerie coming down Front Street (in Exeter), you could just see steam coming up out of the man hole covers," Clevesy said.
Jean Bragel and her husband drove all the way from Raymond to the Stratham store after finding no stores in Raymond open.
"It’s a mess," Bragel said of the driving conditions.
Tom Muse, of East Kingston, was scheduled to work as a bagger Friday morning at 8 a.m. but it took him two hours to get to Stratham from his home due to the number of roads closed and trees down. "The cops are out there sawing off trees," Muse said.
Muse was not expecting the scene he found inside the Stratham store when he arrived. "Everyone that’s been in here’s been in a frenzy," Muse said. "They’re buying water and canned goods."

The Running of the Brides (Ladies) at Arjay's

2008-12-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

Gram and I have just returned from an event I'm terming the running of the brides, Exeter version. It was "Ladies Night" at Arjay's on Lincoln Street, which meant from 6 - 9 tonight, every lady in the store got 25 percent off their entire purchase, everything in the store. I wasn't planning ahead too much for this, but thought I'd pick up some Carhart work pants for my brother Will for Christmas and possibly some other things. Well, apparently everyone else in town had the same thought. The place was mobbed by 6 p.m. I had to drop gram and go in hunt of a parking spot. No carts left. Only a few baskets.
But there were two Santas. Go figure.
We made out well. At one point, the line of people trying to check out was all the way to the back of the store. Wow. In a pretty dismal economy, it was great to see people out doing their shopping at a locally owned business like this.
There's still time to get over there, open until 9. Maybe if you're lucky, Santa will give you a candy cane!

2008-12-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

My neighbor Sharon, a hynotherapist, is offering a deal on her line of relaxation and guided imagery CDs this holiday.

Here's a link to a story about Sharon's work and here's some info on her holiday sale:

Year End Clearance From Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions
Feeling Stressed?
Planning your New Year's Resolutions?
Now is the time to TakeThe Plunge!
Our popular Guided Imagery CDs may be your key to moving to the next level of health and wellness.

Choose from the following:

"Peace of Mind", for general anxiety

"Creating Optimal Health and Wellness", for changing habits

"Preparing for Surgery", to increase feelings of optimism before surgery

"Cancer Be Gone", to cope with the diagnosis and treatments

"Paradise in the Dental Office", for dental phobias

"Fertility Enhancement for Couples", set the stage for a healthy pregnancy

Now until December 23, 2008 $15.00 each (regular price $17)

Free Shipping and Handling

Same day shipping for most orders

Please call toll free 888-441-3332 leave a call back number if our lines are busy.

Or, e-mail michele@acmswellness.com

Not So Humble Anymore

2008-12-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

So, I was amazed to see how much space the Humble Pie on Lincoln Street has now. They expanded into the space next door and now have a huge refrigerator section with lots more food. It's a good place to hit during the crazy holidays when you don't have time to make dinner and don't want pizza or take out.

Another New Blogger in Exeter

2008-12-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

And this time, it's Town Manager Russ Dean. Check out his new blog about town events and happenings at:

http://townmanagernews.wordpress.com/

Yes, it's Ladies Night, Oh What a time

2008-12-01T14:13:00.001-08:00

Arjay Ace Hardware Celebrates the Holidays With Ladies’ Night
Ladies Receive 25% Discount, Refreshments, Prizes and More

Exeter, NH – Arjay Ace Hardware is holding a special =E 2ladies’ night” event that includes a 25 percent discount on all purchases (except gift cards and town trash bags), free refreshments, fabulous prizes, free gift wrapping and friendly, knowledgeable advice.

The event will be held on Wednesday, December 10 from 6:00-9:00 pm at Arjay Ace Hardware, 55 Lincoln Street in Exeter.

“We provide a fun, festive atmosphere for ladies to come in and shop for holiday gifts, seasonal products and much more,” said Dan Jackson, Arjay Ace Hardware’s owner. “This is a wildly popular event each year, and our customers really appreciate the disc ount, the prizes, and our assistance in picking out perfect holiday gifts for everyone on their lists.”

“We’re holding a food drive once again this holiday season, and any customers that bring a non-perishable food item to the store during the Ladies’ Night event will receive a free set of Christmas lights,” Jackson added. “We remain committed to giving back to our community and our customers.”

Store employees will be giving away wonderful raffle prizes throughout the night, including a Nextar GPS navigation system, a Keurig Coffee Brewer and a Bosch Miter Saw.

Arjay Ace Hardware is a fourth-generation family-owned store that has served the Exeter community for 24 years. They carry the finest brands, including Benjamin Moore paint, Weber, Carhartt, Ace brand and much more, and many of these products come with a lifetime guarantee. Arjay Ace=2 0Hardware employees take great pride in their work, offering exceptional customer service and friendly, knowledgeable advice. In fact, the award-winning Arjay Ace Hardware has been consistently named one of Ace Hardware’s premiere stores.

For more information about Ladies Night, please call 603/772-6054.