Connections 45 Years of Building Community It all started on a hot day in July, 1973, when New Hampshire Network General Manager, Keith Nighbert flagged down Katie Wheeler in a grocery store parking lot in Durham, and asked if she’d like to start an auction. Public Television auctions were popping up all over the country, and Katie immediately saw that “it was a way of engaging the entire state and building community.” So without hesitation, she said, “Let’s put on a show!” Katie went straight to work and enlisted a crackerjack team of volunteers including Jean Lockwood, Doris Peterson and Pri Phoenix. And just like that, the NH Country TV Auction was born. Building community - that was the major goal of the Auction; that and having fun, and raising money for their local PBS station. “It was chaos, but it was very exciting because we were starting it, we were making it, it was ours and it was brand new,” said Katie. From its humble beginnings in the basement of the UNH Memorial Union Building to Snively Arena to Pease and back to the NHPBS Studios in Durham — a lot of hard work, late nights and lasting
friendships were forged at the Auction. Thousands of amazing donations, hundreds of volunteers, throw in some farm animals and you’ve got LIVE local television at its best! Forty-five years later the NHPBS Auction is still making memories. "Newcomer" Ryan Grogan, who has 10 volunteering years under his belt at the Auction, started out as a teenager helping his mother who was working behind the scenes. Now Ryan is one of the youngest volunteers to be producing a board alongside veteran volunteer, Scott Bellevieu. “I think a lot of the younger generation has started to engage more in civic duty and giving back. I think the [Auction] is an opportunity to give back and make sure programs stay on the air,” said Ryan. For every auction volunteer who has walked through the NHPBS doors and has been a part of this community-wide fundraiser - we can’t thank you enough and if you've never volunteered, we'd love to have you! The Auction legacy continues to this day — building community and raising critical funds for NHPBS' programs and services that serve NH communities and its residents. Watch the NHPBS Spring Auction April 25 - May 5! Peter Frid NHPBS President & CEO
Windows to the Wild: Holy Flotilla
Our Hometown: Milford
Wednesday, April 11 • 7:30PM on NHPBS
Thursday, April 19 8PM on NHPBS
Host Willem Lange joins a group of "pilgrims" on the Connecticut River as they paddle more than 400 miles from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound. The trip is a spiritual and ecological journey for the paddlers, allowing them to connect with God and nature. Willem talks with trip organizer and Episcopal priest Steve Blackmer, about his life as a conservationist and how it evolved into a spiritual awakening.
April 2018
Host Rebecca Rule heads to Milford and discovers a town with a rich and surprising history. Hear stories about the first female African-American novelist, a Paul Revere bell and a teacher who brings the Constitution to life. Also, find out the special connection Milford has with the 10 dollar bill. The OUR HOMETOWN crew gathered over 40 fascinating stories that will be online for everyone to enjoy at nhpbs.org/hometown.
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