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ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM Plan a Visit page 36 JACKSON’S LODGE in Canaan, Vermont

Spring 2016 vol. 11 no. 1 $4.95

Shop these ﬁne stores at

Rte 12A, West Lebanon (Just off I-89 - Exit 20)

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- Enjoy the Journey! -

contents

features 36 | Enfield Shaker Museum A step back to a simpler time. by Susan Nye

46 | Jackson’s Lodge You don’t mess with paradise. by Sara Tucker

62 | A “Year of Fun” at

the Briggs Opera House

Filling a need and giving back to the community. by Kirsten Gehlbach

On the cover: Larry Antonuk, Shaker broom maker of Marlborough, New Hampshire. Photo by Dolores Struckhoff, courtesy of Enfield Shaker Museum.

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contents

30 56 70

departments 17 Editor’s Note

70 Local Limelight

18 Contributors

by Gabrielle Varela

20 Online Exclusives 24 Monthly Tidbits

Facts, fun & adventure for spring.

30 First Glance

The Lambs Are Coming! by Emily Howe

56 What’s in Store

Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters.

ReneFrancesG: Designs for Change.

78 Out & About

Wildlife in the Urban Jungle. by Lisa Densmore Ballard

88 The Pick

Calendar of local events.

99 Advertisers Index 100 Celebrate the Moment Readers share their photos.

by Susan Nye

Destination New London Shop, Dine & Be Pampered!

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image culture

•

community

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lifestyle

spring • 2016

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editor’s note

A Glorious Spring After a long, dreary winter, it’s finally time to welcome warmer days and greet returning robins. Even though winter remained mild for quite a while, New Hampshire and Vermont residents had no illusions that the weather would stay that way, and they were prepared—as always— PHOTO BY IAN R AYMOND

to face the snow, howling winds, and sub-zero temperatures. Now that those months are behind us, let’s celebrate the sunshine as it warms the earth and triggers nature’s rebirth all around us. You and your family may decide to plan an early spring outing to Enfield Shaker Museum (page 36). You’ll find several interesting buildings to visit and many acres to explore. Adventurers and history buffs might like to join an archeological dig taking place on the grounds during May and June. Who knows what artifacts the group may uncover! If you really want to get away from it all, book a stay at Jackson’s Lodge in Canaan, Vermont (page 46). Leave your laptops and cell phones behind and lose yourself in days of fishing, kayaking, hiking, and biking. At night, build a bonfire by the lake, toast marshmallows, and finally, retire to your charming cabin. Heavenly! One of the sweetest stories we’ve done is about lambs visiting nursing home residents (page 30). Emily Howe is sharing the experience through her words and photos from several area facilities, showing how her lambs spread joy wherever they go. The staff and I hope you enjoy her story as much as we did. We wish you a spring filled with birds, blooms, and beautiful days. You’ll find extra articles as well as local news and events at www.uppervalleyimage.com. Enjoy!

Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com

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about our contributors

Lisa Densmore Ballard

Kirsten Gehlbach

Emily Howe

A three-time Emmywinning television producer and host, Lisa has been a familiar face around New England for her work on PBS and for various sports and outdoor networks. An accomplished writer and photographer, she contributes regularly to over 30 regional and national magazines on various adventure travel, nature, and wildlife topics. She has written seven books, including Best Hikes with Dogs: New Hampshire and Vermont and Hiking the Green Mountains.

Kirsten is a freelance writer and marketing consultant living in Norwich, Vermont. She grew up in the Northeast Kingdom and graduated from the University of Vermont. She enjoys public/ press relations, music, art, travel, and writing about people and organizations. Her articles have been published in several regional magazines and Juneau Empire, with a firsthand account on climate change research in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Emily is a writer, photographer, domestic historian, dance teacher, radio DJ, curator, producer, entertainer, farmer, and most importantly, mom of two young sons, living and laughing in the hills of Tunbridge, Vermont. She is a connoisseur of cheese (both the edible and non-edible kind), and you can often find her munching some local brie while sniffling over commercials featuring puppies and Clydesdales.

Susan Nye

Jack Rowell

Sara Tucker

A corporate dropout, Susan left a 20-year career in international sales and marketing for the fun, flexibility, and fear of self-employment. She is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and cook. Susan’s work appears in magazines and newspapers throughout New England. When she’s not writing or cooking, Susan is hiking or biking near her New Hampshire home.

A fifth-generation Vermonter, Jack has been a professional photographer for over 35 years, shooting documentary, commercial, and advertising photographs. He has had successful one-man exhibitions at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College, Chandler Gallery in Randolph, Governor’s Reception Area in Montpelier, and the Main Street Museum of Art in White River Junction.

Sara is the author of An Irruption of Owls, a memoir set in her birthplace of Randolph, Vermont. Among her passions are travel, books, and France, where she spends roughly half the year. You can follow her adventures on Facebook and via her blog, Sadie and Company.

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Visit Historic

Woodstock Vermont this Spring

MONTHLY TIDBITS F A C T S ,

F U N

A D V E N T U R E

MARCH

KEEP IN MIND

IF PETS HAD THUMBS

Celebrated on March 3, this is the day to contemplate what life would be like if Fluﬀy and Thor had the same, handy opposable thumbs that we humans sport. Would they help themselves to our favorite snacks? Make our beds and do the laundry? Of course, if you have a monkey for a pet, you might already know the answers to those questions. They’d certainly take charge of the remote and watch more Animal Planet!

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

Combine your Saint Paddy’s Day and spring celebrations by taking part in the Shamrock Shuffle 5k race in Lebanon on Saturday, March 19 at noon. Or ease into spring with the free one-mile fun run at 11am the same day. The fun begins at the Lebanon Green at 51 North Park Street and continues along relatively flat residential roads and the scenic Mascoma River. Later, head over to the Salt Hill beer garden for the real Saint Patrick’s Day festivities with Harpoon Brewery!

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Daylight Savings Time begins on March 13 at 2am. Don’t forget to spring forward by setting your clocks an hour ahead before you hit the hay. Sure, you’ll lose an hour of shuteye, but you’ll enjoy the extra light at the end of the day.

SAVE THE DATE! If spring has you thinking about ways to spruce up your space and live more efficiently, be sure to check out the 38th HomeLife Expo at Dartmouth College’s Leverone Field from March 18 through 20. This popular event showcases a broad variety of products and services including furniture, cars, jewelry, cleaning services, windows, doors, emergency services, appliances, building supplies, and many more ideas for businesses and consumers designed to enhance their lives, livelihoods, and well-being.

PI DAY

A special day for math lovers all over the world, Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 every year because the numerical date, 3/14, represents the ﬁ rst three digits of pi (3.14)—a number without an end, or at least one that’s yet to be discovered. How does one celebrate Pi Day? Most festi viti es include the consuming of pie and discussing the relevance of pi. While fruit pies are traditi onal, pizza may also be eaten in celebrati on of the day. So, who thought up this mid March celebrati on? Thank physicist Larry Shaw, who started Pi Day at San Francisco’s Exploratorium Museum in 1988.

AN INTRIGUING MIND

Pi Day, perhaps fitti ttingly, ngly, is also is also the the anniversary of the birth of one of the most veminds mindsininhuman humanhistory. history.Albert Albert creative Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. His theory of relati vity changed how we think about the universe, and his work in parti cle and energy theory brought about quantum mechanics and ulti mately the atomic bomb. He is perhaps best remembered as the author of a paper exploring the mathemati cs of special relati vity and for his announcement that mass and energy were equivalent and could be calculated with the equati on E = mc2. In his role as a renowned public fi gure, Einstein became increasingly politi cal. A lifelong pacifi st, he spoke out against

militarism and rearmament aft er World War I and espoused the cause of Zionism. Unpopular in his nati ve Germany, he renounced his German citi zenship and left the country aft er Adolf Hitler became chancellor in 1933. Later sett ling in the United States, he accepted a post at the Insti tute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, becoming a US citi zen in 1940. Einstein supported the Civil Rights Movement in America, and in the 1940s, he penned an essay ti tled “The Negro Questi on,” which appeared in Pageant magazine. A member of the NAACP, he considered racism the “worst disease” in his new country. Albert Einstein died in Princeton in 1955.

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MONTHLY TIDBITS APRIL America’s Coolest President Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. Sure, he was our third president—but he was also fun, curious, and endlessly interesting. Jefferson loved science and innovation, and one of his favorite devices was a revolving bookstand that could hold fi ve books at once. (He had thousands of books and sold 10,000 of them to the US Library of Congress.) Jefferson also loved vanilla ice cream, playing with his 12 grandkids, astronomy, and writing letters—in fact, the Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress include about 27,000 documents. Many of the rooms at Monticello, his mountaintop home in Charlottesville, Virginia, are octagonal because he liked the shape, and he had 13 skylights put in the ceiling so he could bring in the beauty of nature. He was fascinated with the mastodon and had a vast collection of bones, which he had sent to him at the White House where he laid them out in an attempt to build a skeleton. The inscription at Jefferson’s grave does not mention his two terms as president, but is rather a testament to how much he valued knowledge: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious freedom and Father of the University of Virginia.”

Go Local for Earth Day April truly is a month to pay special attention to our environment. Celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd by buying local goods and produce. If you buy fruits and veggies from a nearby farm, chances are they were picked less than 24 hours ago and, unlike much of the produce you’ll ﬁnd in the supermarket, traveled 100 miles or less to get to you. This

SPRINGTIME NATURE WALK

means healthier produce that’s higher in

The days are getting longer and the sun is feeling warmer— it’s time to get outside! And just because it’s mud season doesn’t mean you can’t have fun outdoors. Put on your rubber boots, pack up the family, and head to Newbury for a Vernal Pool Adventure Walk for Families at The Fells on April 16. Discover who lives in one of The Fells’ vernal pools and why these temporary habitats are so important. This walk will be led by Lake Sunapee Protective Association Education Director Kathleen Stowell. No registration is required, and participants will meet at The Fells Gatehouse at 1pm. For more information, visit www.thefells.org.

nutrients and a smaller carbon footprint— talk about a win-win! Look for local food and goods at independently owned markets, and as the spring turns into summer, check out the farmers’ markets that start popping up in Claremont, New London, Newport, and more communities throughout the Upper Valley.

GARLIC LOVERS REJOICE April is National Garlic Month, and there are lots of reasons to celebrate this tasty veggie. Garlic has been used medicinally since the Greek and Roman times, and it’s widely recognized today as a health-enhancing bulb. Research fi nds that garlic promotes heart health and immunity, and it may even be protective against cancer. Garlic is a great source of selenium as well as health-promoting sulfur compounds, manganese, 26 i m a g e •

Spring 2016

vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Increase garlic’s benefi ts by letting it sit for a few minutes after you’ve chopped or crushed it. Enjoy garlic raw as much as possible, and add it toward the end of cooking. For an easy dressing for salads or cooked veggies, mix one-third cup of olive oil with 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 (or more!) crushed garlic cloves, and salt and pepper to taste.

Go Fly a Kite!

April is National Kite Month, when hundreds of kite events take place around the world. Legend has it that the first kite was flown centuries ago by a Chinese farmer who tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away. The National Kite Month website offers the following tips for kite-flying success: ✓ Wind that’s too strong or too light is difficult to fly in. About 5 to 25 miles per hour is best for most kites—when leaves and bushes start to move, but before it really starts to blow. ✓ Flying space should be a clear, open area. Stay away from roads, power lines, and airports. Open fields, parks, and beaches are ideal. The more space you have, the more line you can let out. ✓ Never fly in rain or lightning. Electricity is attracted to damp kite lines. For more information and pointers on flying different types of kites, visit www.nationalkitemonth.org.

THE FESTIVAL OF BREAD? On April 22, Passover begins at sundown. This Jewish festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from slavery is also sometimes called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. According to the story of Passover, the Jews didn’t have time to let their bread rise before they ﬂed Egypt. So during Passover, only unleavened bread called matzo or matzah may be eaten. } Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

MONTHLY TIDBITS M AY Accidental Wisdom As baseball season gets into full swing, what better time to pay tribute to legendary New York Yankees catcher Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra. Born in St. Louis on May 12, 1925, Yogi was drafted by the Yankees in 1943 before serving in the US Navy during World War II. During his career, he was an 18-time All-Star and 10-time World Series champion. He caught Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, the only perfect game in major league baseball postseason history, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. After retiring as a player, Yogi continued his baseball career as a manager and a coach. He died on September 22, 2015. While many people today didn’t have the privilege of witnessing Yogi’s play behind home plate and at the bat, most are likely familiar with his humorous, witty quotes. What’s remarkable about them is that he wasn’t trying to be funny or wise—his words just came out that way. Everyone knows “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” and “It’s like deja-vu, all over again,” but he treated us to lots more Yogi-isms:

RIDERS UP!

May 17 is the anniversary of the Kentucky Derby, first run in 1875. Every year since, horse racing enthusiasts have descended on Churchill Downs in Louisville to show off their finest hats and sip mint juleps while rooting for their favorite steeds. Last year, a crowd of 165,000 witnessed American Pharoah capture the first leg of the Triple Crown, which he accomplished by also winning the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. (The previous Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Seattle Slew won the honors in 1977, and Secretariat captured the title in 1973.) Also victorious in the Breeders Cup in 2015, American Pharoah became the first horse to ever win the Grand Slam of American horse racing. Don’t miss the action this year on May 7. For more information, go to www.churchilldowns.com.

◆ Even Napoleon had his Watergate. ◆ Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded. ◆ You can observe a lot by watching. ◆ The future ain’t what it used to be. ◆ When you come to a fork in the road, take it. ◆ You should always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t come to yours. ◆ Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.

Courtesy of Churchill Downs

DID YOU KNOW?

Robert Augustus Chesebrough introduced Vaseline® to the public on May 14, 1878. In 1859, the 22-year-old British chemist had noticed that oilmen would apply residue from the drill to their skin to help heal their cuts and burns; he spent the next several years perfecting his product. 28 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

RECYCLE THOSE SCRAPS Learn About Composting Day is May 29 this year, so do your part to help the environment by starting a compost pile in your backyard. Besides adding grass clippings and leaves to your pile, you can also compost vegetable scraps, paper, and cardboard. If you don’t like the idea of a pile that may attract animals, look into buying a compost bin or tumbler. Composting is easy, and adding a layer of the rich mixture around your plants nourishes them, keeps weeds down, and retains moisture in the soil.

Remembering Our Heroes Memorial Day, observed on May 30 this year, is a day set aside to honor service men and women have fought and died to preserve our freedom. First established at the end of the Civil War to pay tribute to fallen fighters and known as Decoration Day until 1882, Congress moved the holiday to the last Monday of the month in 1971. Eagerly anticipated as the first holiday of summer, Memorial Day typically marks the first picnics and parades of the season. During the festivities, it’s important to remember the real meaning behind our celebrations. Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Spring bonnets and a lamb! Andy snuggles with a resident at Brookside Nursing Home in Wilder, Vermont.

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“There is no force so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” —Everett Dirksen

first glance Story and photos by Emily Howe

The Lambs Are Coming! S E R E N D I P I T Y

I N

F L E E C E

It all started out, rather accidentally, on our Tunbridge, Vermont sheep farm. After an unfortunate mix-up with the flock rams in the fall, my husband and I ended up with a crop of Romney lambs arriving far earlier than expected during that record January cold spell. Feeling terribly guilty about our bad family planning, I got busy and sewed warm fleece jackets for all the shivery babies. Most of the 20 new arrivals were healthy and hardy and did just fine, despite my worries, and they looked quite sporty in their rainbow assortment of polar-fleece ensembles! }}}

Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

first glance

Lambs Andy and Elsa visit Brookside, Menig, Riverbend, Berlin Rehab, and more, spreading joy and smiles wherever they go.

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It turns out, plopping a lamb down in someone’s lap is the ultimate cure for loneliness, grief, and aging. Residents who were normally unable to communicate lit up with a newborn sheep in their arms. Lambs in the Kitchen and Beyond But two newborns needed extra help and were ultimately rejected by their mothers. The smallest baby we’d ever had, Andy, arrived not much larger than a big potato. He wound up moving into our kitchen with Elsa, another abandoned lamb, who was nearly frozen at birth. Thus began diapers and bottles as far as the eye could see. Living with lambs in your kitchen is an adventure in itself, but little did we know, the real adventure was yet to begin. My grandfather, Avery Howe, a longtime animal lover, had a stroke several years ago and is a resident at Menig Nursing Home in Randolph. One afternoon before we went to visit him, it occurred to us that maybe he’d like to hold a lamb. He sure did. And so did every other resident. The diaper jokes flew; wheelchairs came from all directions; we were treated like royalty—the “Bearers of the Lamb!” It took hours to visit everyone, and it was difficult to pry the lamb away at the end of the evening. Next thing we knew, word had gotten out. We had requests for lamb visits from other nursing homes, from Girl Scout troops, from schools all over the state. Talking it over, we concluded that we’d give it a whirl while the little ones were still young and loved to cuddle. We would take a couple of weeks to travel with them, visiting Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

first glance

Story author and photographer Emily Howe and Andy head down a hallway, stopping to greet one of Andy’s fans.

as many nursing homes as we could with promises to return with more next spring.

Lamb Therapy I’ve had lots of nursing home experiences over the years, but taking the lambs around the state was the most magical one. If I could afford to do it every day, I would. The joy was beautiful and powerful . . . and something that I’m just not able to describe with my silly words. I’ve never laughed—or cried—so much. It turns out, plopping a lamb down in someone’s lap is the ultimate cure for loneliness, grief, and aging. Residents who were normally unable to communicate lit up with a newborn sheep in their arms. The contrast and connection between the very, very old and the very, very young is incredibly moving, and I’ll always be grateful to have stumbled upon it. Andy and Elsa took many happy naps in hospital beds that spring, and we met hundreds of special people we might not have known otherwise. This year, we timed our lambing season properly, so hopefully we won’t have any orphans on our hands and sharing our kitchen. But no matter, we know we’ve got an important month coming up. We’re looking forward to the exciting adventure we’ve decided will become a yearly ritual— helping some small, woolly friends spread their unique brand of happiness. Bust out the Pampers! The lambs are coming! Baaaaaa. a 34 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

“Simplicity is the embodiment of purity and unity.”—shaker quote

Shaker chairs with hats hanging on pegs. © Lindaelizabeth | Dreamstime.com

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BY SUSAN NYE

Enfield

Shaker Museum PHOTOS COURTESY OF ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

A step back to a simpler time

ou may remember them from your high school history book. Commonly known as the Shakers because of their ecstatic dance during worship, the United Society of

Believers in Christ’s Second Appearance was founded in mid 18th century England. In 1774, their leader, Mother Ann Lee, moved the tiny sect to America. A flourishing interest in evangelism and religion from the late 1700s into the 1830s paved the way for Shaker expansion. Known as the Second Great Awakening, the period was filled with men and women seeking a more enlightened or spiritual way of life. Many found what they sought with the Believers.

The Stone Mill.

Shakers challenged many mainstream ideas of the day. They believed in communal living and ownership, pacifism, equality of the sexes, celibacy, and living simply. James Jewett was among those searching for a better way of life. The Shaker community at Enfield began in 1793, when Jewett and his family converted and opened their home on Mascoma Lake for worship. Other converts joined him and constructed a meetinghouse and communal home. At its height, Enfield had more than 300 Shakers living and working in three thriving communities with 100 buildings on 3,000 acres. }}}

Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Artifacts on display at the Enfield Shaker Museum illustrate the lives of the Shakers and create a tangible link to the individuals who lived at Enfield Shaker Village. Pictured (clockwise from below) are Enfield Shaker chairs, buckets, and a rug. The Museum’s collection of buckets is part of the exhibit “North Family Cooperage Industry.” One of 20 guest rooms, formerly a Brother’s retiring room, with original Shaker architecture and reproduction Shaker furniture. Going into its sixth season, the organic Community Garden enjoys a lush growing season. A portion of the produce is donated to local food pantries. The Museum’s front lawn, with the Great Stone Dwelling in the background, hosts a car show, a craft fair, and luncheon during the Town of Enfield’s annual Old Home Days the last weekend in July.

“Working together, a group of one hundred or more Shakers could accomplish a level of comfort and prosperity that an individual family could rarely achieve,” says Michael.

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Enfield Shaker Village, 1904.

SPRING SHAKER FORUM AT THE ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM Immerse yourself in the Shakers with a weekend of lectures, tours, and a special preservation update. April 22–24, 2016

Communal Efforts Made Sense “Along with the spiritual awakening of the time, communal life made good economic sense,” says Michael O’Connor, curator at Enfield Shaker Museum. Life in rural Northern New England was harsh. “Working together, a group of one hundred or more Shakers could accomplish a level of comfort and prosperity that an individual family could rarely achieve,” says Michael. Their communal efforts allowed the Shakers to produce what they needed for themselves and to create an excess to sell. Throughout their tenure in Enfield, the Shakers built a number of businesses and financed others. Their commercial interests included bucket manufacturing, wholesale seeds, medicinal herbs, and knit and sewn goods as well as financing and constructing commercial buildings for lease. The Great Stone Dwelling is a result of Shaker prosperity and ingenuity. When it was completed in 1841, the

Dwelling House was the largest, most expensive home north of Boston. Designed by architect Ammi Burnham Young, the magnificent six-story house is built from locally quarried granite. It was filled with the best ideas of the day, including weighted window sashes on all of its 152 windows, beautiful paneled doors and shutters, toenailed hard-pine flooring, and knobs instead of simple latches on the doors. At the time, it would have been close to impossible for an individual family in rural New Hampshire to plan, finance, and build a house of this magnitude. Both men and women lived in the Great Stone Dwelling. Michael says, “Like all Shaker architecture, it reflects Ann Lee’s teaching of neatness and orderliness. A neat and orderly house may be heavenly, but it is also an imperative for harmonious, communal life. Ask anyone who has shared a bedroom with a messy sister, brother, or college roommate.” The Dwelling House’s bedrooms were

Anyone with an interest in Shaker studies is invited to attend this weekend forum. The conference begins Friday evening with a reception and program. There will be lectures, workshops, and performances throughout the day on Saturday. Participants will then enjoy a communal dinner and an evening program. Sunday morning, the tours and programs will focus on the Enfield site. The forum ends at midday on Sunday. For more information and rates, visit the museum’s website at www.shakermuseum.org. To register, call the museum staff at (603) 632-4346 or email them at info@ shakermuseum.org.

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spacious with ample storage. Each bedroom had a walk-in closet, and there were peg racks for hanging clothing and tools as well as 860 built-in drawers throughout the residence. In addition, each bedroom had a vented cubbyhole for stowing the chamber pot and a woodstove to chase away the cold. Enthusiastic Volunteers Volunteers are critical to the museum’s operation. They support staff leaders with education programs, events, research, preservation, and gardening. Interested individuals meet every other week for Preservation Wednesday. In the Shaker spirit, one group works on a preservation project while another prepares a hearty meal to share. Carolyn Smith was the museum’s first executive director and continues to support the museum as one of its most enthusiastic volunteers. She has stripped layer upon layer of paint from woodwork and built-ins, painted clapboards, and served on the museum’s board, currently as president. “I’ve never enjoyed a job more than my time as E.D. at Enfield,” says Carolyn. Although she now lives in Massachusetts, her interest in the Shakers has not wavered. She regularly returns to Enfield and says, “I’m very involved with the ongoing preservation. The museum is kind of like my child.” There will be a special volunteer opportunity for anyone interested in archeology this May and June. Dr. David Starbuck, professor of anthropology at Plymouth State College, is organizing a dig on the Enfield Shaker site. David says, “Archeology is a great tool to rediscover a community.” The dig will take place at the old blacksmith shop. “At one time there were one hundred buildings on the site, now there are nine. The remains, the dumps of those 91 buildings, have many stories to 40 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Top: The Museum project team, which coordinated the purchase of the 1854 Shaker Cow Barn in 2015. The barn is the last of the buildings still standing on the site of the former Enfield Shaker Village. Above: Visitors enjoy the very popular sheep-herding demonstration at the Museum’s Annual Harvest Festival the last Saturday in September. Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

The Museum’s Village Garden with its accessible bed. This bed is designed for those unable to work in a ground bed.

tell. Archeology uncovers those stories,” says David. Interested students, both undergraduate and graduate, can earn college credit on the dig. A Special Place for All Ages Today the Dwelling House is both museum and inn. Twenty rooms, each with private bathroom, are available for rent throughout the year. It is a popular site for historic tourism, retreats, and conferences. Beautifully furnished with Shaker reproductions, the house is filled with historic photographs and artifacts. Surrounded by gardens and close to Lake Mascoma, it is indeed a special place. It’s a popular wedding venue where the bride and groom can choose to celebrate outdoors, in the Dwelling House, or, for a rustic flair, in the Stone Mill. A great place for families, the museum offers lots to do. Unlike many museums, Enfield is not just for rainy days. There is plenty to see and do both inside and out. “Along with the Great Stone Dwelling, there are nine historic buildings on 21 acres to explore,” says Dolores Strukhoff, executive director of the museum. “We encourage visitors to walk through the gardens or take a hike through our 42 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

SPRINGTIME EVENTS AT THE ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM March 26 Penny Rug Workshop March 30 Preservation Wednesday April 1 Season Reopening April 9 Taste, Toast, and Tour April 13 Preservation Wednesday April 22–24 Spring Shaker Forum April 27 Preservation Wednesday May 1 Spring Open House May 11 Preservation Wednesday May 15 Shaker Sing May 22 Preparing Your Garden Workshop May 24 Archeological Dig Session 1 May 25 Preservation Wednesday May 30 Memorial Day (Closed)

fields and the abutting conservation land. Bring a picnic and enjoy the view from atop Mount Assurance.” Visitors have a choice of either a guided or self-guided tour. In addition, there are educational programs, special events, craft workshops, and projects for children throughout the year. “The nice thing about the museum is that there is something for everyone,” says Kyle Sandler, a Dartmouth graduate student and interpreter and guide at the museum. He explains, “If you are interested in history or theology, there is the fascinating Shaker story. Architects, Shaker furniture fans, and artists enjoy the buildings, furnishings, and artifacts. Hikers and naturalists love the lake, gardens, and grounds.” Carolyn adds, “There is so much to see and enjoy. You’ll want to come back again and again.” a

Enfield Shaker Museum 447 NH Route 4A Enfield, NH (603) 632-4346 www.shakermuseum.org Opening April 1, 2016 Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm Sunday noon to 4pm Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Destination New London...

Tatewell Gallery

Millstone at 74 Main

Morgan Hill Bookstore

255 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2910 www.Tatewell.com

74 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-4201 www.74MainRestaurant.com

253 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-5850 www.MorganHillBookstore.com

Mon–Fri 10am–5:30pm Sat 10am–4pm

Mon–Sat 11:30am–9pm Sun Brunch 11am–2pm

Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm Sat 9am–5pm Sun 11am–3pm

Clarke’s Hardware

Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce

Gourmet Garden

257 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2800 www.ClarkesHardware.com Mon–Fri 8am–5:30pm Sat 9am–5pm Sun 9am–1pm

Lis Ann’s 420 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-9414 Tue–Fri 10am–5:30pm Sat 10am–5pm Closed Sun and Mon

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Visit our website to find out more about Local Loot! www.LakeSunapeeRegionChamber.org

Robert Jensen Floral Design Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters

195 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-6656 www.GourmetGardenOnline.com Tue–Sat 11am–7pm Sun 11am–3pm Anytime by appointment.

Floorcraft

At the New London Inn New London, NH (603) 526-2827

231 NH Route 11 Wilmot, NH (603) 526-2600 www.FloorcraftNH.com

Tue–Sat 10am–5pm Sun by appointment.

Mon–Fri 8am–5pm Sat 8am–1pm

Shop, Dine & Be Pampered

Pleasant Lake Cheesecake Co. Scytheville Row Shopping Center, #108 75 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-7522 www.PleasantLakeCheesecake.com

New London Inn & Coach House Restaurant 353 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-2791 www.TheNewLondonInn.com

The Flying Goose Brew Pub 40 Andover Road New London, NH (603) 526-6899 www.FlyingGoose.com Mon–Sat 11:30am–9pm Sun 11:30am–8pm

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Sat 9am–12pm

Please visit our website for our current hours.

From House Too Home

New London Opticians

Unleashed

3 Colonial Place New London, NH (603) 526-6990

277 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2088

Mon, Tue, Fri 9am–5pm Wed & Sat 9am–12pm Thu 9am–7pm

Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm Sat 9am–5pm Sun 10am–2pm

The Inn at Pleasant Lake

Sunapee Getaways, Inc.

853 Pleasant Street New London, NH (603) 526-6271 www.InnAtPleasantLake.com

420 Main Street PO Box 1367 New London, NH (603) 526-2436 www.SunapeeGetaways.com

276 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 463-7845 www.FromHouseTooHome.com Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Closed Sun

New London Gallery Custom Picture Framing & Design Studio 209 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-7247 www.NewLondonGallery.com Mon–Fri 9am–4pm | Sat 9am–12pm

Please visit our website for our current hours.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 10am–4pm Evenings & weekends by appointment. Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

BY SARA TUCKER

PHOTOS BY JACK ROWELL

here are people who’ve been coming to Jackson’s Lodge for as long as they can remember, to enjoy their leisure time much as their grandparents did. They fish for trout and small-mouth bass, paddle kayaks around the lake, cycle the quiet roads and trails, and climb nearby peaks. On rainy days, they read books and do jigsaw puzzles. Evenings, they sit on the porch, listen to the loons, and watch the sun sink into the lake. Sometimes a moose wanders by. When darkness falls, they build a bonfire on the lakeshore and visit with neighbors, the folks in the other waterfront cabins. ∞∞∞

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JACKSON’S LODGE You don’t mess with paradise

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STAYING THERE Historic Jackson’s Lodge and Log Cabins is a pet-friendly lakeside resort on the eastern shore of Lake Wallace, which straddles the US–Canada border. From May through October, rates start at $90 per night for the Wayfarer Rooms. Two- and three-bedroom lakeside cabins run from $175 to $225 per night, and $700 to $925 per week. Each cabin can comfortably accommodate four to seven people. 48 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Above: At the end of a quarter-mile dirt road are the Lodge, a breakfast café, and lakeside cabins, graced with gardens and pristine international Lake Wallace. Inset: Audrey and Elmont Jackson’s six daughters (from left) are Bonnie, Francine, Gloria, Connie, Hylie, and Donna. Opposite: Each cabin has its own very clean, quaint, country-style decor. The historic main lodge was built in the 1920s; shown is one of two fieldstone fireplaces. Cabin guests enjoy the conveniences of fully equipped kitchens. A TripAdvisor peer review describes the Lodge as “unreal, like a Bing Crosby movie!” that offers a comforting sense of going back in time.

“My parents said, ‘It’s all of it, or none of it,’” Gloria recalls. “I thought, you’ve got to be kidding! I never thought I’d run the lodge. But they said, ‘If you want the Home Camp, you’ve got to buy the whole thing.’”

A FAMILY OF ENTREPRENEURS

As a child, Gloria Jackson stopped by the cabins every morning to fill wood boxes, empty trashcans, and restock towels and sheets. Her five sisters had similar jobs. Gloria’s mother Audrey ran the lodge with the help of her daughters; her father Elmont, a logger, worked in the woods. The girls’ summer playmates were the children of the guests. Lake Wallace is way up in the top right-hand corner of Vermont, where the Green Mountain State meets New Hampshire and Quebec. On the map, the lake is a blue splash to the left of the dot for Canaan. Part of the lake is in Canada.

Jackson’s Lodge and Log Cabins are on the eastern shore, and the sunsets are amazing. One cabin sits exactly 11 feet from the Canadian border. Gloria’s parents were born in Canada. Her father’s father owned most of the lakeshore property on the Canadian side. Her parents bought the lodge in 1958. They worked hard and raised a family of entrepreneurs. As the children grew up, they settled in the area. Gloria, the next to the youngest, married a logger. In 1985, Gloria and her husband approached her parents about buying the Home Camp, a lakefront cabin that was kept for family use. The senior Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

}

Jacksons were almost ready to retire. “My parents said, ‘It’s all of it, or none of it,’” Gloria recalls. “I thought, you’ve got to be kidding! I never thought I’d run the lodge. But they said, ‘If you want the Home Camp, you’ve got to buy the whole thing.’” CHANGING TIMES, HARD DECISIONS

Just as her mother had done, Gloria ran the lodge while her husband worked in the logging business. Instead of six 50 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

daughters she had two teenage stepsons who helped with the outdoor work. But times had changed, and other lodge owners in the area were talking about selling or shutting down. Then Gloria and her husband divorced, and she had to make some tough decisions. One of them concerned Jackson’s Lodge. For Gloria, the property was a proud symbol of community, friendship, and family tradition. Her parents had poured both their labor and love into it. Her neighbors

Clockwise from top left: Log-rolling and archery courses during Fall Doe Camp. Images of Jackson’s Lodge traditions and families making memories. Sally (with partner Palmer) and her family have been coming back to Jackson’s Lodge for over 40 years.

had helped build parts of it; you could see the marks of their axes in the handhewn logs. The setting was a little piece of heaven that figured in her earliest memories. But the lodge was also a money pit. Running it consumed Gloria’s time and energy. Despite a loyal clientele of seasonal renters, the business barely managed to break even. Many of the buildings needed expensive repairs. Some of the floorboards had holes that Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Jackson’s Lodge hosts Vermont Outdoors Woman Fall Doe Camp, a weekend retreat for adventurous women from across the country who attend over 30 outdoors-oriented courses.

looked all the way down to the ground. To hold onto Jackson’s Lodge, Gloria would have to fight for it. And that’s what she decided to do. “Until that moment, I didn’t realize what I had,” Gloria remembers. “I learned how much the lodge meant to me because I almost lost it.” With help from the Vermont Small Business Development Center, Gloria revised her business plan. The hardest decision she had to make was to shift away from seasonal rentals. “It’s hard when you’ve been in business for a long time. You want to keep your guests happy, but sometimes you have to change.” POLISHING AN OLD GEM

One by one, she began renovating the cabins and renting them out on a weekly basis. She repaired foundations, laid hardwood floors, installed new kitchens. Her sisters pitched in; one reopened the breakfast café; another baked bread. Late one morning, a stranger stopped by the café just as they were closing; he and Gloria got to talking. Mark Leveillee sold websites; Gloria was redesigning hers. 52 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

They went hiking together that afternoon. It was a beautiful fall day, and as they climbed Mount Averill, they discovered they had a lot in common. Gloria knew that for her business to survive, she would have to reach travelers who do much of their shopping online. The new website, launched with Mark’s help and a grant from the Northern Community Investment Corporation, not only shows off the pretty interiors of the renovated cabins and takes reservations but is also loaded with information to help guests plan their stays. There are pages and pages of local attractions—covered bridges, waterfalls, county fairs, wineries, cycling routes, driving tours, area peaks, and so on. There are lists of free amenities—kayaks, paddleboats, and rowboats; a post-andbeam gazebo with a barbecue grill; a crackling fire in the lodge on chilly days. The site calls attention to special events, such as a women’s retreat on “Transformational Journal Writing” in May. And judging from the testimonials, the bookings are coming in, and the guests are happy. After 67 reviews on Trip Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Advisor, Jackson’s Lodge has a solid five-star rating. Many of the reviewers express amazement that such a place can still exist. Today, it’s often Mark who greets you at the front desk and helps you plan your day, while Gloria busies herself behind the scenes or goes from table to table in the breakfast café, refilling coffee mugs and chatting with guests. One question for their guests is likely to be “Did you remember your passport?” The lodge’s customized wine-and-cheese tour, for example, takes you through Quebec’s Eastern Townships and includes chocolatiers, patisseries, and restaurants. Family reunions, weddings, conferences, and sporting events are all part of the new Jackson’s Lodge, which is very much like the old Jackson’s Lodge because you don’t mess with paradise. One of the big events is Doe Camp, a three-day gathering sponsored by Vermont Outdoors Woman. The women and girls who come from all over the country spend their days fishing, hiking, skeet shooting, birdwatching, and making fire from scratch. In the evenings, they sit on the porch and look at the lake. They listen to the loons. Sometimes a moose wanders by. a For more information, call (802) 266-3360 or go to www.JacksonsLodgeVT.net.

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“There is no force so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” —Everett Dirksen

what’s in store by Susan Nye

Photos courtesy of Winslow Rollins

A class act by Susan Nye

If you love beautiful things (and who doesn’t), you’ll love Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters. Nestled below the New London Inn on Main Street, the shop is all nooks and crannies. Bright and light on even the cloudiest of afternoons, it’s filled with wonderful gifts for you to discover. Several for family, some for friends, and more than a few you won’t be able to resist for yourself. In addition to gifts, prints, and cards, the shop is becoming increasingly known for its beautiful flowers. }}}

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what’s in store Winslow Rollins offers a range of goods for the home as well as fresh flowers. This page, clockwise from right: Cutting boards by Vermontbased J.K. Adams Company; melamine plates by Merritt, a California tableware company; and Irish linen dish towels from the U.K.’s Ulster Weavers. A platter features a fiddlehead fern by Laura Zindel Design of Vermont. A walnut bowl by Andrew Pearce, son of glassmaker Simon Pearce. Opposite: David Cleveland and Robert Jensen. One of the store’s flower arrangements in use at an art opening.

ONLINE EXTRA

Find decorating tips from David and Robert at www.uppervalleyimage.com.

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“David and Robert have put together an amazing collection. You walk in and everything is beautifully displayed. Very tempting!” But don’t go looking for a Mr. Winslow or a Mrs. Rollins. The store’s moniker comes from the two state parks that flank nearby Mount Kearsarge. While the name does have a nice ring to it, the mountain is a favorite place for the shop’s owners, Robert Jensen and David Cleveland. David grew up in New London and has many fond memories of hiking on Kearsarge.

Like Boston’s Newbury Street . . . But a Lot More Fun

“We may live in the country, but we’re not a couple of hicks from the sticks.”

Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters may be named for two woodsy state parks, but it has a degree of sophistication you don’t often see in rural New Hampshire. “As soon as you walk in, you know that you will walk out with something lovely,” says Anne Howe of Warner. “It reminds me of the kind of shop you see on Newbury Street in Boston but a lot more fun. Everyone is so warm and welcoming.” In addition to special purchases (she is a fan of anything Simon Pearce), Anne likes to stop at Winslow Rollins for small gifts for friends and for herself. “They have wonderful cards,” she says, adding, “The flowers are extraordinary. I love lots of color and Robert’s work is exceptional. His combinations are amazing.” Robert and David met in New York on Broadway, and the shop’s displays reflect a theatrical background. “We have beautiful treasures, and we want to set a lovely stage to show them off,” says David. He jokes, “We may live in the country, but we’re not a couple of hicks from the sticks.” In addition to the beautiful displays throughout the shop, the couple has installed a large flat-screen television with a continuous loop featuring lovely gifts and flowers.

Fresh and Phenomenal Choices Service and attention to detail are paramount for Robert and David. “We make a real effort to get to know our customers, to know what they like and help them find it,” says David. He adds, “Robert is incredible when it comes to understanding our clients’ needs.” In just a few short years, Robert, a self-trained florist, has developed a reputation for outstanding floral arrangements and bouquets. Kristin Hubbard from New London loves to shop at Winslow Rollins and is delighted that the store is doing well. “It is just fabulous,” she says. “David and Robert

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what’s in store

e ich is e main

Last year when Kristin was in charge of flowers for a friend’s wedding, she turned to Robert. “He did an amazing job. The flowers were just stunning.” 60 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

have put together an amazing collection. You walk in and everything is beautifully displayed. Very tempting!” Kristin frequently stops in for hostess and wedding gifts. “Whether I need something for a special day or just a little something, I find it at Winslow Rollins. I love the glass from Simon Pearce as well as the candles, cards, and soaps,” she adds. Last year when she was in charge of flowers for a friend’s wedding, she turned to Robert. “He did an amazing job. The flowers were just stunning.” Laura Powers, the owner of Extraordinary Taste, a local catering business, has worked with Robert on several weddings and events. “I love working with Robert,” she says. “He has a great knack for understanding people, what they like, and what they want for their party. Then, he does an outstanding job at pulling it all together.” Pat Ettenborough of Ettenborough Essential Solutions is more than an enthusiastic shopper at Winslow Rollins. She’s also the shop’s bookkeeper/accountant. “Robert and David are wonderful additions to New London. They are fabulous to work with and enthusiastic supporters of local businesses, and they have created this beautiful oasis under the Inn.” Pat admits that she probably has one of everything Winslow Rollins sells. “I’m a Simon Pearce addict,” she says. In addition, she has brought home tea towels, art, and pottery. “Robert and David make great

use of a small space. Their collections change every season, and their product choices are phenomenal!”

Spreading Out All their customers appreciate the tremendous infusion of energy, products, and ideas that the couple has brought to the area. “Personal attention and attention to detail is so important,” says Robert. He adds, “We are having so much fun. We have so many loyal customers and have met some wonderful new friends.” In addition to bouquets and centerpieces, Robert offers Girls’ Night Out flower-arranging parties. Along with wine and cheese, Robert serves up a fun and festive workshop on arranging flowers. Some of those parties will soon move to Robert’s new floral design studio. The flower business has become so large that Robert and David have converted part of the garage at their home in Wilmot into a studio. “I can’t believe how quickly we outgrew this space. It is still fine for the day-to-day business but too small for large parties,” says Robert. Remembering a recent order of 80 centerpieces that he somehow managed to create in the cozy shop, Robert is both relieved and delighted to have the new large space. He also plans to use the Wilmot studio for some of the larger Girls’ Night Out parties. Whether for flowers, an important gift, or a token of friendship, Winslow Rollins is ready to serve. Kristin says, “I always find something fabulous, even if I rush in at the last minute. Their attention to detail, down to the exquisite gift wrap, is impeccable.” She sums it up perfectly: “Robert and David are a class act!” a Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters 353 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-2827 Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm and Sunday by appointment Closed on Monday Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

A “Year of Fun” at the

Briggs Opera House

Seating flanks the stage on three sides, giving the audience an intimate experience.

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FILLING A NEED & GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

BY KIRSTEN GEHLBACH 6

PHOTOS BY CPERRY PHOTOGRAPHY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

The community has enjoyed a “Year of Fun” at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, thanks to the Briggs family and the creative Upper Valley community. When Northern Stage moved to the new Barrette Center for the Arts just around the corner last spring, David Briggs and family invited the community to weigh in, asking the question, “What would you like to see in this space?” The answer was clear when eight organizations stepped forward. The community wanted a venue for the performing arts, dancers, movies, and musicians. 

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A Goldilocks Venue – Just the Right Size “There is a real need for this kind of space—to perform, to watch movies on a 16-foot screen. What is the quality of this space? The devil is in the details,” says David. “We need it to be accessible and affordable.” Plus, he says, it’s vital to keep the audience close to the performers. Kicking the year off, Butch Thompson of National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion returned to the Briggs Opera House after 30 years and performed a concert to benefit the Upper Valley Music Center. White River Ballet Academy staged an annual performance. Northern Stage

used the second-floor space for students in their theater arts camp. ArtisTree Theater Company from South Pomfret stepped in to rehearse for the production of Laughter on the 23rd Floor. North Country Community Theater also rehearsed and performed at the Briggs for A Walk in the Woods. There are a number of performing arts organizations in the region that need a rehearsal or performance space, and David is working to keep the Briggs available. “The Upper Valley is lucky to have this lovely, intimate space where performers and the audience can connect,” says Margaret Hunton, president

The story starts much earlier, when Teddy Roosevelt came to town in 1911, and the town was the official State Fair site in 1922. Later, the Briggs was the host for basketball games, USO troops who stopped in from the train, a LEGO® building expo, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.

Clockwise from left: Before 1879, the Hotel Coolidge was known as the Junction House. This photo was taken in 1884. Photo courtesy of Hartford Historical Society. The Hotel Coolidge today. Early photo of the Junction House. Photo courtesy of Hartford Historical Society.

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“It is wonderful to see so many people come together to witness this little theater in all its glory,” says Jackie.

Clockwise from top left: Step down to your seat. David Briggs. The lobby and ticket booth area at the Briggs.

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Set from Songs for a New World. Inset: Set from The Spitfire Grill. Photos by Rob Strong, courtesy of Northern Stage.

of the board of directors for North Country Community Theater. “The Briggs Opera House is a perfect size, available for community groups from theatrical performances to choral groups.” The musical collaborative Caballbreaker hosted a “Mob of Angels” concert with a range of young woman musicians. And the fun is just getting started. Jay Stevens, a member of Caballbreaker, says, “The Briggs Opera House is a cultural resource. You can think of this as a culture of business or a business of culture.” He adds, “To lose the Briggs would be a blow to the community. The community needs to step in so this venue can continue to be a resource.” Jackie Stanton-Conley, the director of White River Ballet Academy, agrees. “For years, White River Ballet Academy had been performing in Woodstock and Thetford, Vermont, and then suddenly Briggs Opera House became available after many years of being occupied by Northern Stage. I jumped at the chance to utilize this charming, quintessential, historical theater.” 66 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

She contacted Dave. “We spoke, and within one afternoon we had a plan to make White River Ballet Academy the first to come in and use his space. Dave and his family gave us an opportunity. We are so proud to be performing in White River Junction, right around the corner.” Jackie adds that Briggs Opera House has been booked every month, with everything from movie nights to public meetings to a 40-piece-orchestra recital. For smaller companies that cannot afford larger venues or that simply don’t need large venues, Briggs Opera House is perfect. It seats 250, has eight dressing rooms, and features an open, or thrust, stage that offers the audience a great view from any seat and creates a more intimate connection between the performers and the audience. “It is wonderful to see so many people come together to witness this little theater in all its glory,” says Jackie.

More Great Shows to Come Since 1985, the Hotel Coolidge has been involved in the concept of a creative Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

From live theater to first-run movies, the Briggs offers entertainment for all.

economy. That was when David first produced a concert in the Opera House featuring The Butch Thompson Trio from A Prairie Home Companion. He explains this led to the formation of River City Arts, the White River Theater Festival, the Yankee Brass Band Festival, and the Cabin Fever Music Series. In 1998, Northern Stage arrived to bring the lights up in the house for the community. The story starts much earlier, when Teddy Roosevelt came to town in 1911, and the town was the official State Fair site in 1922. Later, the Briggs was the host for basketball games, USO troops who stopped in from the train, a LEGO® building expo, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. “Yellow House is excited to have access to a music venue like the Briggs. Since October, we’ve promoted three concerts with Dave Keller, Sonya Kitchell and Myra Flynn, and Brooks Hubbard. Without exception, the musicians have loved playing there and have mentioned the great acoustics,” says Dave Clark of Yellow House Media. “Dave Briggs has agreed to a financial structure that really does encourage community-based music, theater, art, and dance. Yellow House Media provides email marketing, online ticket sales, and overall event coordination,” Dave explains. “We 68 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

are in the midst of planning more great shows for 2016 including bluegrass, techno, dance parties, blues, and folk.” He encourages and welcomes ideas. “This is an iconic structure supporting the arts,” adds Jay. “We are all in need of a seriously good party. There are very few places like the Briggs Opera House. This is an enormous opportunity for festival energy.” Jay describes festival energy as a congenial environment with friends of friends who could become friends. “I think for the Upper Valley, it gives us the feel of a ‘big-time city’ in a small railroad town. With art performances, we walk away with the feeling that we’ve done good, giving back to the community by supporting Briggs Opera House, and that, to me, is essential in this ever-changing, fast-paced world,” says Jackie. There is more to come in the next “Year of Fun.” David says, “The community needs this space.” a

Briggs Opera House 76 Gates Street White River Junction, VT (802) 296-7000 www.hotelcoolidge.com/tag/ briggs-opera-house Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

local limelight STORY AND PHOTOS BY GABRIELLE VARELA

Bringing sustainable, ethical fashion to the Upper Valley In a room overflowing with clothing and sheets of torn fashion sketches, Rene Gerrior sits in her bright, second-floor studio in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The elfin and a bit eccentric Rene is perched on a stool, sipping coffee at her drawing table. “This is where I spend most of my time,” she says, turning toward her sewing machine. “This is usually what I wear.” Free of makeup and draped in a long black skirt with matching crop top, she is a modest contrast to the tangles of clothing rebelling from their racks and the towering piles of fabric that surround her in a craze of color. }

DESIGNS FOR CHANGE

ReneFrancesG }

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Rene grew up using Singer sewing machines, which she still uses. “They remind me of why I love creating,” she says.

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local limelight

“I like seeing people enjoy wearing what I’ve made,” Rene says. “If they feel pretty, confident, or comfortable, in some small way, maybe I’ve done something good.”

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The Labor Force The Massachusetts-born designer is the woman behind the name ReneFrancesG—the luminary label that has come to represent sustainability, labor rights, and great style. Starting with rebuilt garments, such as sweaters made from recycled cashmere to reduce waste, she is now preparing to launch her own organic line, aptly dubbed The Labor Force, this coming winter. Rene didn’t intend to be a fashion designer. She got her start in New York City while pursuing an acting career. Typical of budding artists, she held a second job bartending where she began to make outfits for the dancers. “I’m a sucker for a good fit and a well thought out head-to-toe style,” she says, reaching over to tuck in a bit of fabric swathed around her mannequin. Rene is notorious for using traditional details to accent modern looks. Throwbacks like triangular silhouettes, pleated layers, tweed, houndstooth, corset lace-ups, and Edwardian high collars Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

local limelight

are revamped with iridescent blues, flamboyant oranges, faux-fur cuffs, and colorful geometric patterns for a style that is as refreshing as it is iconic. However, Rene’s elegant designs are also a call to arms that “ethical fashion” can be done—and done in style. Before hopping off her chair to pull down a retro A-line dress covered in a riot of orange, geometric flowers, Rene hands me a postcard from the large inspiration board behind her. The image depicts a skulk of orange-red foxes 74 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

pouncing about in a gray monochrome restaurant (Sandy Skoglund’s 1989 Fox Games). “This was the inspiration for the dress,” she says. “I bought this print from a local African shop in Florida.” She adds with concern, running her hand over the flounce of skirt, “Within the next year or two, these prints will be everywhere.” Rene says, “There is still a little girl in me that just wants to make pretty dresses, but there is also something

Each of Rene’s dress and coat designs begins with a sketch.

“There is still a little girl in me that just wants to make pretty dresses, but there is also something in me that makes me want to work toward change.”

in me that makes me want to work toward change.” The designer remains mostly self-taught, her sewing skills handed down by her grandmother and her fashion savvy refined by shadowing a friend who attended New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Rene first became concerned with fair wages and improving labor environments during her own experience working long hours as a seamstress.

“I know what it is like to sit at a machine day in and day out; the damage it does to your body is irreparable. If I’m going to have others work with me, then I am going to do it the right way,” she explains, referring to her newest venture, The Labor Force, a name that denotes the ambitions of its brand and those like it. Despite Rene’s pioneering a brand that makes garments that are both eclectic and guilt-free in the Upper Valley, motivation to revive domestic Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

local limelight manufacturing is sweeping across the country.

“Made In America” The Reshoring Initiative reports over 800 case studies of companies choosing to manufacture in the United States instead of foreign countries. Major clothing companies like Saks, Brooks Brothers, Karen Kane, and PW Minor shoes, as well as many small businesses, have brought production back to the United States. Now consumers can see “Made in America” emblazoned across tags, advertisements, and social media campaigns. The designation recalls industrial America and instills a standard of quality craftsmanship and solidarity. “I feel good about what I do and what I am learning, the direction I am going in,” says Rene. We can be certain that direction is forward—fighting the good fashion fight. Moving beyond local shops like White River Junction’s Revolution and Who is Sylvia in Woodstock, Rene hit the runways of St. Louis in August, where she competed in the Pins and Needles Competition. The Labor Force will debut its first garments this spring, 2016, and while she won’t give away her sources for locally made fabric, she says the community’s appreciation for local, handmade items along with their increasing support make the Upper Valley a great spot for her to be based. a ReneFrancesG www.renefrancesg.com

ONLINE EXTRA

To see more of ReneFrancesG’s collection, visit www.uppervalleyimage.com.

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out & about

Story and photos by Lisa Densmore Ballard

WILDLIFE in the URBAN JUNGLE

DISCOVERING EXOTIC AND UNEXPECTED SPECIES IN NEW YORK CITY

When someone refers to the wild life in New York City, night clubbers

moshing to loud music and misbehaving celebrities are more likely to come to mind than grizzly bears and red pandas. Mention a wild cat, and most people envision an escaped tabby or a hissing alley cat, but not snow leopards. Yet bears, pandas, and leopards, along with many other exotic creatures, reside just off Fifth Avenue, between 63rd and 66th Street, in a six-acre patch of Central Park. I discovered these metro mammals along with dozens of other rare fauna while passing through New York City last spring. “Let’s go to the zoo!” suggested my friend Liz, my host in the Big Apple for the day. “How will we get there?” I asked, assuming she meant the famous Bronx Zoo. “By bike,” came Liz’s unexpected answer. “It’s not far. We can pedal around Battery Point, then up the West Side before cutting across to the zoo.” I was an avid biker, but this sounded overambitious, both mileage- and route-wise. By car, driving directly from Liz’s apartment near the United Nations plaza to the Bronx Zoo is about 10.5 miles. With the detour she suggested, it would be double that distance—if there was a bike-friendly route. I planned to rent a Citi Bike, an extra-beefy commuter bike with only a few gears. Citi Bikes are a citywide initiative aimed at getting more people to use bicycles for transportation around the congested megalopolis. A potential bike-commuter need only find a Citi Bike rack, located every few blocks around Manhattan, and swipe a credit card. ∞∞∞

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A rare red panda, one of many endangered species protected at the Central Park Zoo. Opposite: The new Freedom Tower on the site of the Twin Towers dominates the Manhattan skyline.

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This page, clockwise from top left: The author and her husband rent Citi Bikes. A seal at the Central Park Zoo. A macaw from the Amazon in the zoo’s birdhouse. The author tests a fitness machine at a new public exercise space beside the bike path along the East River. Opposite: Snow leopards at the Central Park Zoo.

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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (in the Big Apple) New York City may be an urban jungle, but it also has a number of places dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation, and study of wildlife: Central Park Zoo Bronx Zoo New York Aquarium Prospect Park Wildlife Center (Brooklyn) Queens Wildlife Center Staten Island Zoo

Citi Bikes are built for heavy wear and tear, not longdistance rides. In addition, the streets of New York are filled with battalions of kamikaze taxi drivers with little regard for the kamikaze bicyclists, mainly messengers, who irreverently zigzag through the stop-and-go traffic and around parked delivery trucks and innumerable wheel-popping potholes. From my rural perspective, riding a bike from the East Side of Manhattan to the Bronx would be suicidal. “Kind of a long ride, don’t you think?” I quipped, trying not to sound pessimistic. Liz’s scheme sounded wilder than the untamed animals we hoped to see. Ride over a bridge? What if a bus doesn’t see us? What if a car door unexpectedly opens? I envisioned urban perils at every block of the outing. “Not the Bronx Zoo,” she giggled, “the Central Park Zoo!” Despite living in New York post-college and numerous subsequent visits there, I had forgotten about the Central Park Zoo.

The Old Zoo The Central Park Zoo was established in the 1860s. It was the first official zoo to open in New York City and the second

publicly owned zoo in the country. It was not part of the original concept for Central Park. It simply evolved in the southeast corner of the park as a place for the city to contain a few live gifts, namely a bear and several swans. The zoo moved to its current location, a couple of blocks north, in 1875, after which it remained relatively unchanged for another 60 years. Then in 1934, a number of new buildings were added around a sea lion pool. The animals were housed primarily in cages. When I moved to New York City in 1984 as an ambitious junior Wall-Streeter, the Central Park Zoo was closed. A jungle of weeds and vines had overtaken the dilapidated brick buildings and cages. That same year, unbeknownst to me, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) took over the Central Park Zoo as well as all of the city’s other zoos and the New York Aquarium. The WCS immediately embarked on renovating and reinvigorating the Central Park Zoo, but the renaissance took a few years. When the zoo reopened in 1988, after I had moved to the Upper Valley, habitat-like enclosures mimicking an animal’s Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

Clockwise from top: A newly renovated pier at South Street Seaport. A showy Victoria crowned pigeon at the Central Park Zoo. A red ibis in the zoo’s tropical birdhouse. An exotic Nicobar pigeon roosting in the birdhouse. The Freedom Tower rises from the former site of the Twin Towers.

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natural environs replaced the cages, and a host of new birds and animals took up residence.

Polar Bear Encounter My only previous visit to the Central Park Zoo was on a mother–son trip to New York City in 2004 when my son was in grade school. A friend from the Upper Valley and I took our boys to the city one weekend to “do New York” kid-style. We took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, went to the top of the Empire State Building, saw The Lion King on Broadway, ogled the Tyrannosaurus rex at the American Museum of Natural History, and met “Gus” at the Central Park Zoo. Gus was a celebrity polar bear. He arrived at the zoo shortly after it reopened in the late 1980s and lived there until 2013 when, at the age 27, he succumbed to an inoperable thyroid tumor. The great white bear was famous for his obsessive swimming. He swam and swam, sometimes for 12 hours at a stretch. Casual observers speculated the bear was neurotic or lovesick as his swimming habit developed after the two female polar bears at the zoo died. After $25,000 worth of bear psychotherapy, researchers determined he was simply bored. Once the WCS started making the bear work more for his food, he acted less like a marathon swimmer and more like a polar bear. After watching Gus swim a few figure eights, we glanced at the seals and checked out the poison frogs in the amphibian house. Then the boys’ attention turned to the swings in a nearby play area and we moved on.

Biking the Big Apple Remembering my brief visit to the Central Park Zoo a decade earlier, the idea of returning to see it again excited me, along with the idea of riding bikes around the lower perimeter of Manhattan, which, Liz explained, now contains a dedicated bike path. After freeing my Citi Bike from the rack where it was parked, Liz and I headed south along the East River. Things had changed for the better in Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

A male peacock shows off his fantastic plummage at the Central Park Zoo.

the last 10 years. Manhattan had become much more bike-friendly. We pedaled south along the East River, stopping to try out the public exercise machines and then at an enormous pier where two vintage tall ships were docked. We continued around the tip of the island, pausing at Battery Park to look at the Statue of Liberty across the harbor and stroll around the ancient cemetery by St. Paul’s Chapel. The new Freedom Tower, built on the site of the Twin Towers, gleamed above us, towering over the skyscrapers. The small, colonial chapel juxtaposed with the enormous, ultramodern tower spoke of the staying power of both the city and our country, and made me feel proud. We continued our ride up the West Side past the Intrepid, a World War II–era aircraft carrier now serving as a wartime and aircraft museum. Then Liz suddenly veered east onto the street. I followed with outward enthusiasm and inward angst, but we soon reached Central Park, where the vehicular traffic gave way to other cyclists, joggers, and horse-drawn carriages. 84 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

The New Zoo At the Central Park Zoo, I discovered a state-of-the-art wildlife sanctuary, showcasing birds and animals from various tropical, temperate, and Arctic regions of the globe. Our first stop was the birdhouse. Inside, we felt transported to the Amazon. A myriad of colorful birds flew freely around the lush manmade forest. Some perched on vines peering at passersby. Others poked the soil or waded in the shallow water below the walkway that wound through the mesmerizing collection of flamboyant avian residents. I spotted two fantastically blue and yellow macaws, the largest species of parrot in the world. Wondering if either of them could talk, I said “hello” but they just stared back. From the birdhouse, we watched the seals in the seal pool shoot like bullets through the water, then we crowded onto the viewing platform above the red panda pen, hoping to see one of these endangered Himalayan carnivores that are loosely related to the giant panda. >> Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

I spotted one rummaging amidst some bamboo shoots. They looked more like maskless raccoons than pandas. Like the macaws, populations of red pandas have declined to a troubling level due to loss of habitat, poaching, and climate change. Scientists estimate less than 3,000 red pandas remain today, with the majority residing in national parks in Asia and places like the Central Park Zoo.

Saving the Snow Leopard The rarest animal we saw at the Central Park Zoo was not the red panda but the snow leopard. These secretive cats from Central Asia are known for their incredible leaping prowess—up to 50 feet, but the one I could see through the glasswalled enclosure lolled in some tall grass. Its relaxed demeanor belied its ability to take down prey three times its size. As I watched the speckled cat, its pale fur tussled slightly in the breeze. I felt awed and privileged for the chance to see the rare feline. It’s easy to feel sorry for animals in zoos, penned in as they are. I wondered if the snow leopard was bored like Gus was. My sorrow was fleeting. The odds of ever seeing a snow leopard in the wild are extremely remote. I had tried once on a trek in Bhutan over a decade ago. The chance to finally see one, as well as a number of other animals and birds from far-flung places, was a thrill I never expected in New York City. Their stories fascinate me, and as a result of seeing them, I have a much greater appreciation for the diversity of wildlife on our planet and the importance of protecting it. a

More Info The Central Park Zoo is open year-round. It’s located between 63rd and 66th Street oﬀ Fifth Avenue. For more info, go to www. centralparkzoo.com.

ONLINE EXTRA

To see more photos from Central Park Zoo, go to www.uppervalleyimage.com.

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the

pick

BY MEG BRAZILL

PHOTOS BY JACK ROWELL

SPRINGTIME

ar ts & e n te r tain me n t

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Through March 12 The Hound of the Baskervilles

March 23–April 9 The Mountaintop

Three actors play 16 characters in this endlessly funny madcap adventure! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s cherished novel follows an aristocratic British family who are terrorized, generation upon generation, by a spectral hound intent on killing all the male heirs. The great detective Sherlock Holmes sends his trusted sidekick Watson to the appropriately eerie countryside to investigate, while he observes in disguise. This popular Sherlock Holmes tale is turned inside out with hilarious results! The Barrette Center for the Arts northernstage.org

A stormy night in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Lorraine Motel in 1968 shows us Martin Luther King Jr., exhausted after having delivered one of his most memorable speeches. A surprise visit from a feisty maid brings unwelcome news that forces King to confront his legacy, his destiny, and his humanity. Katori Hall’s stunning portrayal reaches an other-worldly summit, leaving the theater-goer exhausted, elated, and hopeful for the future. The Barrette Center for the Arts northernstage.org

March 12 Organic Beekeeping with Ross Conrad This workshop includes two highly requested topics by local beekeepers: “Working with Honey Bee Queens and Swarms” as well as “Organic Controls for Pests and Disease Other than Varroa.” The Nature Museum www.nature-museum.org, 9am–1pm

March 17 Mighty Acorns: Fossils – Stories in Stone Calling all junior paleontologists! Come to the museum to study fossils and how they are formed through fun touchable artifacts, games, and activities. We will also take a hike to the Village Park to look at fossils we find right in our own backyard! The Nature Museum www.nature-museum.org, 10–11:30am

March 20 Gold City Quartet and the Armouraires Quartet Lebanon Opera House lebanonoperahouse.org, 2pm

March 22 Out and About at the Fells: Signs of Spring Stirrings

March 24 Thursday’s Child at The Coach House Restaurant Thursday’s Child at the Coach House Restaurant supports local community nonprofits one plate at time by donating 50 percent of the evening’s net proceeds to the designated organization. Join us for divine dining on March 24 to benefit The Fells—tables fill fast, so get your friends together and reserve now. Call (603) 526-2791 or go online to www. thenewlondoninn.com/reservations-for-thecoach-house-restaurant/. See you there! The Fells, www.thefells.org, 5:30–9pm

March 26 Penny Rug Workshop Join instructor Nancy DeCesare for a workshop on the historical penny rug craft. Dating back to the 1800s, penny rugs are made from felted wool. Today’s versions come in many shapes, sizes, and patterns, but this workshop will focus on the original “penny” design where many coin-shaped pieces are stitched together to make a larger piece. We will provide all materials including wool, thread, pattern, and needles. There will be a break from 12 to 1pm for lunch. Please bring a bagged lunch

March 29 Johnny Clegg Band Lebanon Opera House, lebanonoperahouse.org, 7:30pm

or plan to purchase something locally. To register, call the museum at (603) 632-4346 or email education@shakermuseum.org. Enfield Shaker Museum www.shakermuseum.org, 10am–3pm

March 29 Johnny Clegg Band Lebanon Opera House lebanonoperahouse.org, 7:30pm

April 8, 9 New England Classical Academy Presents The Canterville Ghost An average American family acquires historic old Canterville Manor—complete with ghost! Sir Simon, the sporting spirit, succeeds in making life miserable. Then the Americans strike back. Pam and Wendy, daughters of the new owners, attack the poor ghost with cans of hair spray! Sir Simon feels this is hardly fair, so he enlists the aid of some friends: Hester the Horrid, Lady Joan the Graveless, and the Vampire Duchess, and other things that go bump in the night. Life is hectic and fantastically funny around Canterville Chase until the real solution to the problem of the galloping ghost is discovered. Claremont Opera House www.claremontoperahouse.org, 7pm >>

The Pick is sponsored by St. Johnsbury Academy

Days are growing longer and nature is just starting to stir after the winter sleep. During the month of March, we will follow spring’s progress from the first signs of melting snow to the sweet rising of the sap. Join Lake Sunapee Protective Association’s education staff in this program for preschool-age children and their caregivers. Children will love the hands-on learning and sensory experiences, guided exploration, creative play, art, and music. No reservations necessary. Free. Meet at The Fells Gatehouse. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 10–11am

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the pick

April 9 Vegetable Gardening 101 Novice or experienced gardener? Need the basics for planning your vegetable garden? Master Gardener Linda West guides you through the process with tips on how to establish a garden, what to plant, what critters to expect, and unique ways to grow some of your favorite veggies. Requested donation $10. Advance registration required. To register, call (603) 763-4789 ext. 3. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 9:30am–12pm

April 12 Out and About at The Fells: Pools of Mud and Magic Come explore magical spring ponds full of new life! Peeping frogs, squirming salamanders, and emerging turtles will be the stars of our April activities. Join Lake Sunapee Protective Association’s education staff in this program for preschool-age children and their caregivers. Children will love the hands-on learning and sensory experiences, guided exploration, creative play, art, and music. Free. No reservations necessary. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 10–11am

April 16 Vernal Pool Adventure Walk for Families Bring the whole family for a learning experience at one of The Fells’ vernal ponds. Waterproof footwear recommended. Led by Lake Sunapee Protective Association Education Director Kathleen Stowell. Fells and LSPA members free, non-members $5 per family. No registration required. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 1–2:30pm

April 16–17 Five Colleges Book Sale Choose from over 50 categories of carefully sorted, modestly priced books. Children’s

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April 16 Vernal Pool Adventure Walk for Families The Fells, www.thefells.org, 1–2:30pm

books, DVDs, CDs, books on CDs, videos, special collectibles, rare books and a sealedbid auction. Proceeds support scholarships for Vermont and New Hampshire students at Mt. Holyoke, Simmons, Smith, Vassar, and Wellesley Colleges. Lebanon High School, five-collegesbooksale. org, 16, 9am–5pm; 17, 9am–3pm (half-price day)

April 20–May 8 The Norman Conquests: Living Together A hysterical and often poignant romp through one day in the lives of some excruciatingly unhappy thirty-somethings in England. Norman, a librarian with unruly hair and even more unruly manners, arrives at a country house for a “dirty weekend” with the downtrodden Annie, who for years has been trapped taking care of her mother in a big Victorian house in the country. Without revealing her real plans, Annie has enlisted her brother, Reg, and his wife, Sarah, to look after the tyrannical Mum. The Barrette Center for the Arts northernstage.org

April 21 Peter Rabbit Tales In celebration of Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday anniversary, Enchantment Theatre in collaboration with the Estate of Beatrix Potter and Penguin Books UK brings her captivating stories to life. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery, and original music, the magical, marvelous world of Beatrix Potter comes alive on stage. Lebanon Opera House lebanonoperahouse.org, 10am >> Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

the pick April 29 DINOMAN Claremont Opera House www.claremontoperahouse.org, 10am

April 21 Mighty Acorns: Baby Animals and Their Homes Celebrate the new life of spring and learn all about baby animals. Your mighty acorn will love learning about how different creatures survive to adulthood and where they live so they can be safe. Stories, games, and forest exploration will keep everyone active and interested! The Nature Museum www.nature-museum.org, 10–11:30am

April 29 DINOMAN

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With magic, merry mayhem, and magnificent props, the audience is taken on a trip through the Mesozoic era. How do we know dinosaurs were here? What is a fossil? How are they made? This program is fun and informative for all ages. Claremont Opera House www.claremontoperahouse.org, 10am

April 29–May 1 Heroes Heroes introduces audiences to three World War I veterans, residents of a soldiers’ home, whose camaraderie is tested by physical afflictions and general boredom. They while away their time until they set their sights on an “escape plan,” offering hope to themselves while serving up a play of gentle comedy for the rest of us. Whipple Memorial Town Hall www.nnertc.org, 29, 30, 7:30pm; 1, 2pm

May 1 Spring Open House Join us for museum exhibits, tours of our winter preservation projects, hands-on children’s activities, admission and Gift Shop savings, free refreshments, and more! Enfield Shaker Museum www.shakermuseum.org, 10am–4pm

May 6 Free Dental Clinic Summer Court Dental www.summercourtdental.com, 8am–5pm

May 6–8 National Public Gardens Day As part of the ninth annual National Public Gardens Day, join The Fells in a nationwide celebration of public gardens. Explore the beauty of The Fells and discover the colorful spring blooms in the Rock Garden and the fragrant blossoms of early flowering trees and shrubs. Get a preview of Art in Nature 2016 Outdoor Sculpture. Treat Mom on her day (Sunday, May 8) and pack a picnic to enjoy on our veranda— carry-in/carry-out please. Admission is free to all the entire weekend. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 10am–4pm

May 7 Birding by Ear and Sight Join Peter Newbern for a morning of learning some tricks to identify bird songs and calls by interpreting what it seems like they are singing, followed by a chance to hear and see some of the various neo-tropical birds returning to nest. This is an easy/moderate walk around the grounds of The Fells. Meet at the Gatehouse. Members free, non-members $8. To reserve call (603) 763-4789 ext. 3. The Fells, www.thefells.org 7:30–9am (Rain date May 8)

May 7 Growing Food in Small Spaces No space for a garden? WMUR-TV’s host of Grow it Green and Agriculture Resources Educator at UNH Cooperative Extension in Hillsborough County Margret Hagen has some ideas for finding space and growing more food in the space you have. She will share spacesaving techniques for increasing yields in small garden spaces: vertical cropping, intercropping, succession planting, raised-bed gardening, and intensive planting. Requested donation $10. Advance registration required. To register, call (603) 763-4789 ext. 3. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 10–11:30am >> Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

the pick May 11 Love That Dog Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Mrs. Stretchberry, won’t stop giving her class poetry assignments—and Jack can’t avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say. Lebanon Opera House lebanonoperahouse.org, 10am

May 19 Mighty Acorns: Amazing Ants Come discover the mysteries of life in a busy ant hill. How do young ants grow up, and why do so many ants live together? We will answer these questions and more through games, activities, and guided-imagery stories. The Nature Museum www.nature-museum.org, 10–11:30am

May 24 Out and About at The Fells: Blooms, Buds, and Bugs May bursts forth with the colors and sounds of spring! Join Lake Sunapee Protective Association’s education staff in this program for preschool-age children and their caregivers. Children will love the hands-on learning and sensory experiences, guided exploration, creative play, art, and music. Free. No reservations necessary. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 10–11am

May 27 Member Opening Reception Celebrate the opening of our exciting 2016 season with Fells members and guests. Meet fellow Fells supporters and be among the first to see the season’s new exhibits. We have Art in Nature 2016, an outdoor sculpture exhibit curated by Janet Haines; new history and ecology exhibits in our Main House; and a brand-new art exhibit in our Main House Gallery. Mingle with the artists, take a guided tour of the sculpture, and enjoy complimentary light hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar. Reserve online or call (603) 763-4789 ext. 3. The Fells, www.thefells.org, 5–7pm

May 28–July 10 Exhibit: Barns and Farms in the Landscape In 1888, John Milton Hay quietly began acquiring nearly 1,100 acres of abandoned farms to create his family’s new summer home, and in the early 1900s, The Fells itself became a self-sustaining working farm. In this all-new art exhibit, select artists from the New Hampshire Art Association capture the essence of historic and contemporary barns and farms that are an important feature of the New Hampshire landscape. The Fells, www.thefells.org

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May 31

Curious George: The Golden Meatball

Lebanon Opera House lebanonoperahouse.org, 10am

May 28–October 10 Ecology Exhibit: Life Cycles of The Fells The now 84 acres of The Fells Historic Estate and Gardens (originally 1,100 acres) was more than a home for the Hay family. This exhibit explores the wildlife residents, plant life, and ecological aspects of The Fells. Children of all ages will also enjoy interactive exhibits with wildlife such as owls, bats, and mammal pelts. Come and view our butterfly house to examine larvae as they transform from larvae to chrysalis to butterfly. The Fells, www.thefells.org

May 28–October 10 History Exhibit: John Milton Hay – American Statesman John Milton Hay was appointed Secretary of State in President William McKinley’s cabinet. He continued in offi ce under President Theodore Roosevelt following McKinley’s assassination in 1901 and served until his death in offi ce on July 1, 1905. He was instrumental in taking the US onto the theater of world politics by bartering an agreement to limit European infl uence in Asia and negotiating the Panama Canal Treaty, the Alaskan Boundary Dispute, and the Venezuelan Crisis. The Fells, www.thefells.org

May 28–October 10 Art in Nature: Outdoor Sculpture Discover the spectacular art of well-known New England sculptors as you explore the beautiful gardens and grounds of The Fells. Each piece is sited to seamlessly integrate into the surrounding gardens and natural landscape. Curated by Janet Miller Haines. The Fells, www.thefells.org

May 31 Curious George: The Golden Meatball Join the inquisitive, lovable little monkey in this delightful new musical. With every swing and fl ip, George takes the audience through a fun-fi lled adventure in which he learns more about Rome . . . and meatballs . . . and the “secret ingredient” to cooking! Lebanon Opera House >> lebanonoperahouse.org, 10am Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

the pick Hopkins Center Highlights Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (603) 646-2422 www.hop.dartmouth.edu

April 7 Swingle Singers Spaulding Auditorium 7pm

March 19 Hanover HopStop Family Show: Upper Valley Music Center Alumni Hall, 11am March 19 Claremont HopStop Family Show: Upper Valley Music Center Claremont Savings Bank Community Center 3pm April 1, 2 Red-Eye to Havre de Grace The Moore Theater 8m April 7 The Swingle Singers Spaulding Auditorium 7pm April 8, 9 Companhia Urbana de Danca The Moore Theater 8pm April 9 Hanover HopStop: Companhia Urbana de Danca Alumni Hall, 11am 96 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

April 28 Ensemble Sequentia Rollins Chapel 7pm

April 9 Claremont HopStop Family Show: New Inca Son Claremont Savings Bank Community Center 3pm April 19 Maria Schneider Orchestra Spaulding Auditorium 7pm April 26 Angélique Kidjo Spaulding Auditorium 7pm April 28 Ensemble Sequentia Rollins Chapel 7pm April 30 Dartmouth College Gospel Choir Spaulding Auditorium 2pm May 7 Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble Spaulding Auditorium 8pm May 14 Handel Society of Dartmouth College Spaulding Auditorium 8pm May 17 Sally Pinkas and Jan Müller-Szeraws Spaulding Auditorium 7pm May 21 Hanover HopStop: The Swing Peepers Hop Plaza 11am Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

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vol. 11

Spring 2016 no. 1 $4.95

ADVERTISERS INDEX AVA Gallery & Art Center 91

Gerrish Honda 16

Northern Motorsport 77

AboutFace Skin Therapy 16

Gilberte Interiors 4

Old Hampshire Designs 43

Alice Williams Interiors 97

Gourmet Garden 44

Omer & Bob’s 83

Angkor Wat Restaurant 22

Guaraldi Agency 43

On Stage Dancewear 11

Appletree Opticians 90

Hanover Country Club 91

Peraza Dermatology Group 3

Artemis Global Art 23

Hanover Inn 27

Pleasant Lake Cheesecake Co. 45

Artifactory 11

Hanover Transfer & Storage 76

Quail Hollow 68

Artistree Gallery 40

Hanover True Value 18

Quechee Lakes Listing 35

Bartolo Governati State Farm Agent 90

Harvest Hill/The Woodlands 33

Richard Electric 68

Barton Insurance Agency 97

Henderson’s Tree & Garden Services 25

Riverlight Builders 67

Belletetes 5

HomeLife Expo 41

Robert Jensen Floral Design 44 & 95

Bensonwood 15

Illuminations by Barre Electric 94

Royal Towne Gifts 95

Bentleys 97

InfuseMe 1

Sean’s Lawn N’ Garden Services 69

Biron’s Flooring 92

Jackson’s Lodge 85

Springfield Medical Care Systems Inside front cover

Bouteille 86

Jancewicz & Son 7

St. Johnsbury Academy 89

Boynton Construction 75

Jasmin Auto Body 92

Stateline Sports 90

Briggs Opera House 96

Jeff Wilmot Painting 52

Sugar River Bank 67

Brown’s Auto & Marine 86

Jozach Jewelers 42

Summercrest Senior Living Community 91

Brown’s Floormasters 77

Junction Frame Shop 66

Sunapee Getaways 45

CPerry Photography 95

Keene Medical Products 66

Systems Plus Computers 34

Canon Tire 74

Killington Golf Resort 73

TK Sportswear 86

Carpet King & Tile 51

King Arthur Flour 52

Tatewell Gallery 44

Caulfield Art Gallery 22

LF Trottier and Sons 87

The Carriage Shed 69

Charter Trust Company 17

Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce 44

The Inn at Pleasant Lake 45

Cioffredi & Associates 33

Landforms 8

The New London Inn and

Clarke’s Hardware 44

LaValley Building Supply 10

Clear Choice MD 29

Lisann’s 44

The Olive Table 22

Colonial Pharmacy 85

Longacres Nursery Center 21

The PowerHouse Mall 11

Cota & Cota Oil 54

Love’s Bedding & Furniture 98

The Ultimate Bath Store 9

Country Kids Clothing 11

MB Pro Landscape Design 94

The Woodstock Gallery 23

Crown Point Cabinetry 6

MJ Harrington Jewelers 34

Topstitch Embroidery 74

db Landscaping 40

Mascoma Dental Associates 27

Unleashed 45

Davis Frame Co. Inside back cover

Mascoma Savings Bank 19

Upper Valley Haven 96

Donald Neely, DMD 73

McGray & Nichols 55

Upper Valley Oral Surgery 41

Dorr Mill Store 54

Merten’s House 93

Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry 53

Dowd’s Country Inn & Event Center Back cover

Millstone at 74 Main 44

Upper Valley Ride 93

Elixir 75

Mindful Dermatology 51

VINS 22

Enfield Shaker Museum 96

Morgan Hill Bookstore 44

Vermont Facial Aesthetics 94

Eyeglass Outlet 85

Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center 84

Vitt & Associates 93

Feetniks Footwear 11

NT Ferro Estate and Custom Jewelers 23

WISE 83

Floorcraft 44

Nathan Weschler 67

White River Family Eyecare 87

Flying Goose Brewpub 45

Nature Calls 13

Wilson Tire Company 84

Four Seasons/Sotheby’s International Real Estate 2

New London Gallery Custom Picture Framing &

Winslow Rollins Home Outfitters 44

Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center 61

Design Studio 45

Women’s Center for Binge and Emotional Eating 29

From House Too Home 45

New London Opticians 45

Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce 23

Gateway Motors 55

Northcape Design Build 53

Woodstock Inn & Resort 42 & 76

The Coach House Restaurant 45 & 61

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 643-1830 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net. Find image at www.uppervalleyimage.com •

celebrate the moment

Owen and Max DeLuca! Photo by Beltrami.

The Milowski family celebrating National Daughter’s Day!

Ro and Bill Wyman’s family enjoying Canobie Lake. Caroline and Quinten getting ready for his christening in the U.K.

Erin and Peter at Simon Pearce.

Evelyn Cormier living her lifelong dream in Paris, France.

celebrating YOU this spring! Send photos of your special moments to dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com. 100 i m a g e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

Reese Cullen, feeling the spirit of Quebec City during a recent family vacation.