Come Ring In the Holidays
The Dublin Recreation Committee invites you to our annual Holiday Night Celebration on Friday, December 5, at 6:30 pm. Come for hot chocolate, cookies and the traditional Christmas tree lighting.
Join us at the front of the parking lot between the Fire Department and Yankee Magazine (facing Main Street). For entertainment, the Chorale Choir from Dublin Christian Academy will perform holiday songs.
A certain visitor from the North Pole has been known to make a surprise appearance, so be on the lookout!
For information, contact Jen Bergeron at jberge@nullmyfairpoint.net or 563-8308.
Fairwood Bible Chapel Invites One and All
By Dan Murray
We at Fairwood Bible Chapel (18 Fairwood Drive, Dublin) invite everyone in town (and all your friends and relations) to attend the annual Christmas Dessert Banquet.
Come enjoy a wonderful evening of delicious treats, plenty of music, and a delightful (original) play written and directed by a Fairwood Bible Institute alumna.
The event is scheduled for 6:30 Sunday evening, December 14. Whether it’s already your family’s annual tradition, or your very first visit, we hope you’ll come and enjoy a great time of celebration in this beautiful setting.
Call 563-8492 with any questions, or please RSVP by Thursday the 11th of December.
Dan Murray is Dean of Admissions for Fairwood Bible Institute.
Christmas at DCA
Many activities are planned at Dublin Christian Academy this holiday season. December 4 is DCA Day from 8 am to 12:30 pm, followed by the DCA Choir singing at Dublin Christmas Tree Lighting on December 5 at 6:30 pm.
DCA Christmas Vespers will be held December 18 at Mountain View Baptist Church at 2 pm. All are welcome.
Dublin Community Church’s Christmas Eve Candlelight Service begins at 7 pm.
To see other Christmas offerings in the Monadnock Region,
please jump below to read about “Nowell Sing We Clear,”
DelRossi’s, Monadnock Chorus, Animaterra, and Frost Heaves.
John Harris: A Remembrance
By Nancy Campbell and Lisa Foote
While John Harris was not born and raised in Dublin, he certainly left his mark here for the benefit of future generations. Before his unexpected death on October 20th at the age of 84, he had ensured that the history of Dublin as recorded in written records both old and new are safeguarded and accessible.
John grew up in New York City and was graduated from Princeton University in the Class of 1951. Subsequently, he served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart. After his service John attended Harvard Law School, married Betsey Brooks, and practiced law for ten years in NYC.
Before becoming permanent residents in Dublin in 1980, John and Betsey lived in NYC and in Connecticut, from whence John was a partner in a dairy operation in Mill River, MA. The story goes that they first saw Stonewall Farm (on Page Road) in 1961 on a day so overcast that Mt. Monadnock was not visible; none the wiser, they decided to buy the property.
The Harris family, inveterate travelers, spent many summers aboard their sailboat, Perelandra. They sailed with family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic, John having made four trans-Atlantic crossings.
Those who knew John can attest to his love of literature and history (as could his bookshelves) and to his ability to quote extensive passages from memory in his theatrical basso voice. So it is not surprising to note that the name, Perelandra, comes from the title of a science fiction novel by C. S. Lewis.
With their move to Dublin both John and Betsey began volunteering for town boards and local organizations. In John’s case, he began cataloging some of the collections at the Historical Society of Cheshire County, in what would become a 30-year relationship. In 1985 he volunteered to catalog the contents of the town vault, which were said to have been spilling out onto the floor. Little did he know that the contents of the vault were just the tip of the iceberg. He found many more boxes of town records in the choir loft of the former Trinitarian Church (now the Post Office). John used his exceptional organizational skills to bring order to chaos.
That same year, the Town formed a committee to present suggestions for a permanent location for the Post Office. John was a member of the committee that oversaw the renovation of the old church into our Post Office. He carved out a cramped, drafty area at the top of a narrow stairway there to sort town records.
In a 1990 Monadnock Ledger interview, John said, ”I volunteered before I knew what I was in for.” As Town Archivist for ten years and assistant Town Archivist until his retirement in 2013, he could be found every day upstairs at the Post Office or subsequently at the archives building he helped create. John also served on the Dublin Budget Committee for six years (1986-1992).
In 1986, John and Bill Bauhan, a Princeton classmate, became concerned that the Dublin Historical Society had been inactive since 1952 and as such needed to be revived. John was involved with DHS for 27 years, serving as Archivist, and at times, President and Secretary.
By the late 1980s the records of both the town and the historical society were in need of a home. John spent more than eight years lobbying for the building of a fireproof and climate-controlled building to house both collections. With John’s stewardship, the building was opened in 1996. Nearly 20 years later the shared facility continues to function as a repository for both sets of historical records.
As a fitting tribute to the Harris’s extended involvement and contributions, the Town of Dublin recognized both John and Betsey by awarding them “Citizens of the Year” in 2006.
John Harris applied his high standards, clear thinking, strong opinions, perseverance, and dry wit to everything he set out to do and was glad to share his wisdom. Many will miss John as a friend, a colleague, and a mentor.
Nancy Campbell is Dublin’s Town Archivist and Lisa Foote is the Dublin Historical Society Archivist.
Dublin Public Library
December is always a busy month, but make time to stop by the Dublin Public Library from 9:30 to 10:30 on Wednesday mornings. Story Time manages to keep things low key while reading books and doing a different craft each week. On December 3 and 10 we will be learning about hibernation and special stories that connect animals with Christmas. On December 17, “Snow Down” and enjoy the season! Whether Mother Nature provides snow or not there will be “snow” in the library. Are the stockings hung, cookies made and presents wrapped? The library will be open December 24th from 9 to 12 offering crafts, snacks and a chance to check out books and DVDs for vacation. And don’t feel bad that the year is ending on December 31; remember, a new one is beginning the following day!
Come make a New Year’s crown for 2015! Vacation week may be a nice time to visit the library at night as well as Wednesday mornings.
In December we may feel there are visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads while we try to get everything accomplished!
Take the time to share a favorite holiday story with your family and read a quick holiday story yourself. Check out a holiday cookbook from the library and bake — just to get that wonderful smell into your home. The library has many books on gifts that children can make. A simple card or craft item is always cherished by the receiver. Take the time to experience all the joys of this season.
Books
Killing Patton by B. O’Reilly
The Future of Us by J. Asher
Treat Us Like Dogs and We Will Become Wolves by C. Chute
Pegasus by D. Steel
An Irish Doctor in Peace and at War by P. Taylor
DVDs
How to Train your Dragon 2
Maleficent
Superman
Planes, Fire and Rescue
Paul F. Biklen
1913-2014
Dublin is grateful for his years of service to the U.S. Navy and to the Town’s Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and History Committee.
A Memorial Service will be held at Dublin Community Church, December 6 at 2 pm.
Titles Required for Vehicles with Model Year 2000 and Newer
By Jeannine Dunne
New Hampshire currently has a 15-year title law, which means that a vehicle that is 15 years old or more does not require a title to be registered. The New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles has notified us that this will change starting on January 1, 2015. From then on, if you buy a vehicle with a model year of 2000 or newer, you will need to bring the title with you to the Town Clerk’s office in order to get a new title issued in your name and to register the vehicle. If you have any questions about what you need to register your vehicle, please call the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office at 563-8859.
Jeannine Dunne is Town Clerk/Tax Collector.
He talked about his experiences working with Ken Burns. The talk was a ‘home run with bases loaded.’ Photo by Sally Shonk
Dublin Community Center Adds Events and Activities
By Edie Clark and Nancy Jackson
True to its mission of providing arts and culture, wellness, and education, the Dublin Community Center is adding new features for the benefit of the community. A new feature this month is Home Health Care’s “The Nurse Is In,” a blood pressure clinic and a place to get your health questions answered. It will be held in conjunction with our monthly Community Lunch on Tuesday, December 16, from 11:30-12:30.
For December, our artist of the month will be Mary Iselin, whose subjects are often horses and sheep. “I paint horses the way some artists would paint a bowl of fruit: as a vehicle to explore light, color, atmosphere, and, most of all, spirit.”
The animals in all her paintings are her own, from the Marlborough farm she runs with her husband, George. Mary is represented by galleries in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, and her work is in collections as far away as Iceland. For more information, go to her website: maryiselinfineart.com.
On December 3 at 6 pm, Retirement is the focus of a Hub Talk: Steve Kim, a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed, Inc., invites you to attend his presentation, “Your Retirement: Medicare & Health Care Options.” Kim explains, that health care is an important part of your overall retirement financial plan. Understand the options available to support a physically and financially healthy retirement. There is no charge for this event, and you are welcome to bring guests. Please RSVP to Steve Kim at 603-563-0265 or sckim@nullwradvisors.com.
Open Mic night, often held the second Friday of every month, will be held on Friday, December 12, from 7 to 9 pm. Bring your instrument or just come to listen.
The Center is open on Monday and Wednesday, from 9 am to 5 pm, to provide an opportunity for community residents to gather, chat, play cards or games. Zumba meets at 5:30 pm on Mondays, a Chi Gong class is held at noon on Wednesdays, and Sally Shonk’s art classes from 3:30 to 5:00 pm on Wednesday afternoons are open to all.
The Hub is available for private parties and holiday gatherings, so book soon by contacting the center at dublincommunitycenter@nullgmail.com. For regular updates, visit us on Facebook.
Edie Clark and Nancy Jackson are on the board of the Dublin Community Center, aka the Hub.
Dublin Community Preschool
By Dan Millbauer
Dublin Community Preschool & Childcare Center takes pride in 50 years of nurturing and educating the children of Dublin and the Monadnock Region.
At DCP, students learn to help their neighbors. We host food drives every fall and spring for the Monadnock Area Food Bank. Every holiday season, children place winter clothing under our “giving tree” for the Dublin Community Church to distribute to those in need. (If you would like to contribute hats, mittens or scarves through mid-December, please contact the school at 563-8508 or cathy@nulldublinpreschool.org.)
DCP is a vital and valuable community presence that gives back in many ways, and we rely on the generosity of individuals and businesses to support our efforts to provide the best program for our families. That’s why we conduct our annual fundraising appeal, which is under way now.
Your gift in any amount means so much and makes a real difference for the children. With it, we can offer our students more — like music appreciation, gardening and nature exploration — and we can continue special community events like our spring children’s art show.
To contribute, please look for our Annual Appeal letter in your Dublin mailbox, or complete the form below and mail a check made out to Dublin Community Preschool to 1281-C Main Street, Dublin, NH 03444.
The students, staff and executive committee of DCP wish you a happy holiday season and thank you for your generosity!
Dan Millbauer is on the board of the DCP.
Dublin Community Preschool & Childcare Center
2014 ANNUAL APPEAL
Name: ________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________
E-Mail: _______________________________________
My check for $_____________ is enclosed.
Please make checks payable to Dublin Community Preschool.
____ My employer will match my gift.
Enclosed is my company’s matching gift form.
Thank you for your tax-deductible contribution!
DCP’s tax ID # is 02-0265328.
DCA Students Visit Bob Jones University
By Bill Katka
In November a group of Dublin Christian Academy students attended the Bob Jones University’s Fine Arts Festival in South Carolina. The students represented DCA well by taking several awards in the competition part of the festival.
Our ladies ensemble took third place in the Small Ensemble category. Our acting group took third in the Acting category. The festival was a profitable learning time for all of the students involved.
There were two university choirs for students to rehearse with as well as the band and string orchestra. The preaching contestants delivered their sermons and were videotaped. Each one then had a one-on-one session with a Bible faculty member, after which they delivered their sermon a second time. There was a 10-minute play contest where students were given certain parameters and challenged to write a play based on those guidelines in 24 hours. The top three plays were then cast using the high school students. University students directed the six-hour rehearsals, and the plays were presented to a packed house in one of the college theaters.
In addition, students enjoyed a university performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and attended master classes presented by various faculty members in many different areas.
Bill Katka is Fine Arts Director at DCA.
News from the Dublin Consolidated School
By May Clark
November went by in a flash — just three weeks of school! Probably the biggest news of the month is that all the elementary schools in the ConVal District used our new standards-based report card for the first time, and held conferences with parents just before Thanksgiving. This was a big undertaking, and is a process that is not completely finished, because we are collecting feedback. We have asked a few questions of parents and teachers, and we will likely make a few adjustments based on what we hear.
Our NHDI residency week culminated in a performance by all the students for their families. It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year, where children get to dance every day, and show off their newly learned skills at the end of the week. Lisa Cook is our master dance teacher, and this year’s performance was, as always, the best one ever!
ConVal’s wonderful food service put on their Harvest Lunch on the Thursday before Thanksgiving — turkey with all the fixin’s — and the meal was well attended and enjoyed by many of our families.
We hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, and now it’s onward to all the December holidays! DCS students will put on their traditional Holiday Concert on December 12 at 6 pm, and we’re fairly sure that the Dublin Fire Department has arranged for a certain sleigh to stop by that night. Don’t miss it, especially if you have a little one in your family who is not yet school age — he or she is in for a treat!
May Clark is Teaching Principal at DCS. She can be reached at 563-8332 or mclark@nullconval.edu.
Perkin Observatory December Open Houses
We are excited to offer this to the Dublin community.
By Joseph Putko
The Perkin Observatory on the campus of Dublin School invites the public to observe the heavens using their powerful, computer-controlled telescope this December. Provided the skies are mostly clear, Open House events will be held on Saturday evenings when school is in session: December 6 and 13, both from 6 pm to 7 pm.
The December 6 Open House will feature the full moon. Visitors will have the chance to observe it through the telescope with their own eyes and to photograph it using a DSLR camera. The light of the full moon will wash away most of the stars, yet visitors will still be able to view bright stars such as Capella, Vega, and Polaris (the North Star) through the telescope.
The December 13 Open House will feature “deep-sky” astronomical imaging of faint galaxies and nebulae (this time, the Moon will not be out, so the skies will be much darker). Visitors will be able to enjoy the show and operate the equipment from inside the heated classroom, as the computer will use a 50’’ TV as its display.
The Observatory is located atop Memorial Field on the western edge of Dublin School’s campus. Take Old Common Rd. off Route 101, turn right to enter campus and, after reaching the top of the hill, follow signs for the Observatory and parking.
If the weather is uncertain, please consult the Observatory’s website (www.dublinschool.org/astro) or Twitter feed (@Dublin_Astro) for updates. A final call will be made no later than 4 pm.
Open House events will be staffed by Joseph Putko, the Observatory’s new director, and students in Dublin School’s Astronomy Club. Please direct all questions to jputko@nulldublinschool.org.
Joseph Putko is the director of the Observatory at Dublin School.
Holiday Line Dance Party
By Deb Giaimo
I am hosting a Holiday Line Dance Party at the Dublin Community Center [Hub] from 6 to 8 pm on December 10 (snow date Dec. 17).
Open to all, the party is geared to the new line dancer — so no experience is necessary. No partner, either! From 6 to 6:15 pm I will teach the steps that we will be doing in the line dances. The music I use is mostly Pop, Rock ‘n Roll, Swing, Latin, Big Band, and of course, Holiday songs, too (not country). The cost is $7 per person. We will have a snack table (dancers can contribute – or not), and cider will be provided.
Dancers must bring their dance shoes/boots. No street shoes are to be worn onto the dance floor.
Since space is limited, anyone planning to attend the Holiday Line Dance Party should please call Deb Giaimo at 563-8648 to reserve a spot.
Maureen Ahern, CEO, Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery
By Rusty Bastedo
Maureen Ahern came with her husband Bill Knorr to Keene and the Monadnock Region 34 years ago, in 1981. Maureen was an exhibits curator at the Albany Institute of Art and History, with an MA degree in Studio Art; Bill was a photographer at the Institute; and both had worked in the federal government’s CETA Program.
Maureen was recruited by Keene State College. The search committee for a director of the Thorne Gallery, a small gallery housed in Mason Library, included members of the Friends of the Thorne in addition to representatives from KSC. At the time, the collection at the Thorne was largely uncatalogued, and sometimes unlocated; Maureen accepted the position, which was a 75% time position, because she wanted some time to pursue her studio art.
When Maureen Ahern and her husband moved from Albany to the Monadnock Region – first it was to a Dublin Lake cottage that faced the prevailing west wind, and then an 18th century house in Swanzey. Both houses burned lots of firewood, and the Swanzey house had a packed earthen floor in the basement that never dried out, a fact that destroyed much of the couple’s furniture that was stored there. But Maureen and Bill persevered.
Maureen’s first years at the Thorne were spent pulling things together, while convincing the College and community that in order to bring quality exhibits to the region, the Thorne had to have climate controls and better security. In 1994, after a joint fundraising effort by the college and the community, funds were finally available to build a new museum facility, on the grounds of Keene State College. Dublin’s Sagendorph family made major contributions toward the new building and, with the funds raised, the new Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery was built, with climate controls, motion detectors, surveillance cameras and other safeguards and systems that made it possible for other institutions to lend major works of art to the new facility. At this time the Gallery, along with the Friends of the Thorne, began to work with a private group, Friends of the Dublin Art Colony, on a collaboration to expand the collection of works by Joseph Lindon Smith, Richard Meryman and other members of the 19th century Dublin Art Colony.
After 34 years, the changes at the Thorne have been dramatic. The Gallery has been able to mount a number of important exhibitions under Maureen’s leadership – Color Field works by Jules Olitski, an artist honored with a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; works by Mary Cassatt; and by members of the Andrew Wyeth family; parts of the collections owned by Graham Gund; and Japanese origami (works of art made with folded paper); etc.
[Note: the current loan exhibition of works of art on paper from the Kalamazoo (MI) Institute of Art should not be missed.]
Maureen retires in advance of a significant 2015 anniversary of the Gallery, but she will be available on as-needed basis in the future. And she will continue to live in Dublin!
Russell Bastedo was formerly New Hampshire State Curator from 1997 to 2009. He has served on the staff of the Advocate since 1999.
Hundred Nights 1st Annual Holiday Auction
Bidding opens where silent auction ends.
Join supporters of Hundred Nights Shelter on Saturday, December 13, for a combined live and silent holiday auction. Preview of available items and registration will begin at 10 am. Live bidding will begin at noon!
The auction will be held at the Hellenic Hall behind St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 70 West St., in Keene, NH.
A list of all available auction items can be found at www.hundrednightsinc.org. If you see an item that you would like to bid on silently before December 12, send an email to mcambiar@nullhundrednightsinc.org with your name, contact info, description of item and bid amount.
The first bid that we receive that is at or above face value will win the auction silently, and that item will be removed from the live auction. Any items not won during the silent auction will go to the live auction, starting at noon, and bidding will begin where the silent auction left off.
Auctioneer John Pappas (from the Gallery at Knotty Pine Auction Service, West Swanzey, NH) will preside over the live portion of the event and refreshments will be available.
Volunteers will be needed all day to help sell food, run auction items up to the auctioneer and on to the winning bidder, to tally bid sheets and clean up after the event.
Please call Mindy Cambiar at 352-5197 if you would like to help in any way.
Art at the Thorne
The Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery at Keene State College is offering the following exhibits through the holiday season.
Ongoing: Intersection II: Art, Culture, and Identity — Object based learning using the Thorne’s permanent collection.
October 10 through December 7 — Light Works: A Century of Photography: Photographs that span the history of photography, from studies of animal locomotion to contemporary prints. Exhibits organized by the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
December 12 and 13 — Call for Entries submissions for the Biennial Regional Juror’s Choice Competition, January 24 – March 26, 2015. The competition is open to artists living within a 30-mile radius of Keene. Drop off is between 9 am and 3 pm both days.
The Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery (www.keene.edu/tsag) is open Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays from 12 to 5 pm; on Thursdays and Fridays, from 12 to 7 pm; and Saturdays from 12 to 8 pm. You may contact the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery at thorne@nullkeene.edu or call 603-358-2720.
Roger Trempe: A Firefighter for 40 Years
By Ramona Branch
Meet Roger Trempe, a man who knew he wanted to be a firefighter and signed on with the Mason Junior Fire Department when he was 14 years old and still a freshman in high school. Of course, high school students do not go out and fight fires but they do train with the regular firefighters and have trainings of their own. The junior firefighters can join the regular fire department when they are 18, and that’s what Trempe did.
Trempe explains how he got into firefighting: “I had an uncle who was a firefighter in Greenville. I liked the way he talked about what he did as a firefighter. He would take me down to the Greenville Fire Department and we would hang out together. I wanted to do what he did.”
While Trempe is a resident of New Ipswich, his career job is in Dublin working with Brian Barden in the Dublin Highway Department as a heavy equipment operator/truck driver.
In 2001 when he came to work in Dublin, Fire Chief Vanderbilt asked Roger if he would consider joining the fire department as a daytime firefighter. “Of course my answer was yes,” Trempe says. “I like to help the community. I work in Dublin and this work is important to the people who live here,” he adds.
A Certified NH Level 1 Firefighter, Trempe’s job is driving the fire truck and running the pumps. He explains that he was actually trained to run the pumps by Brian Barden at the Meadowbrook training center near Fitzwilliam. Trempe has worked as a firefighter in Mason, Greenville and Dublin. With brief stretches in between he calculates he has been a firefighter around 42 years.
Roger Trempe’s wife Barbara has been an emergency dispatcher for quite a while, and her current position is with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. The couple has three children: Alyson, 36; Sara, 30; and Stephanie, 27. In addition, Trempe has two children from his first marriage: Aaron, 36, and Angela, 32.
When not at work at the Dublin Highway Department or fighting fires, Trempe loves going to antique truck shows around the country. His main hobby involves his motorcycle and riding with the Red Knights, an organization of current, retired and volunteer firefighters who ride together. The Red Knights International Fire Fighters Motorcycle Club has some 300 chapters and 9,000 members throughout the world.
Writer’s Note: This is the 11th story in a series featuring the members of the Dublin Fire Department.
Ramona Branch is on the staff of the Advocate.
YogaWeekend to Benefit Hospice at HCS
YogaWeekend is set for Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25. YogaWeekend is an opportunity for those new to yoga, as well as the more experienced student, to try a variety of yoga styles first-hand with classes led by several local instructors. Doors will open at 8 am each day. Classes will begin at 9 am and the last class will start at 3 pm.
Massage and Reiki will be available throughout each day. Continental breakfast and a light lunch are provided. There will be a raffle for a stay at Kripalu in Stockbridge, MA, and a silent auction with many items donated from area businesses and individuals.
All classes, massage, Reiki, and breakfast and lunch are by donation, with proceeds benefiting Hospice at HCS, the local non-profit hospice providing end of life care to people at home, in assisted living facilities and in long term care facilities in southwestern New Hampshire. HCS is a Monadnock United Way agency with offices in Keene, Peterborough and Charlestown.
YogaWeekend 2015 will be held at Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, 312 Marlboro Street in Keene. For more information call HCS at 352-2253 or visit HCSservices.org.
Community Supper
The Dublin Community Church’s Board of Outreach will hold another Community Supper on Tuesday, December 23, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. We welcome everyone from Dublin and the local towns who could use a good meal to come enjoy the delicious homemade food. It is free and the vestry is handicapped accessible.
CASA Advocates
Area volunteers really needed.
What is a CASA? It stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and it is someone who gives voice to the best interests of a child who has been neglected or abused.
You may not be aware of CASA guardians ad litem in your community, or even of neglected and abused children, because these cases are confidential and the court hearings are closed to the public, but they’re there. Yes, even in your community, there are children who have suffered and who need someone just like you to be their voice in court. A CASA advocate works with children, families and community professionals to guide these children toward safe, permanent homes.
Being a CASA is not for everyone. It takes commitment and courage. It’s a volunteer opportunity that’s a lot like a job. There’s a lot of training involved. But being a CASA just might be perfect for you.
Please visit www.casanh.org to learn more, or call 603-626-4600.
Safe Sitter Course
The River Center is offering a Safe Sitter babysitting course on Saturday, January 19 from 9 am to 4 pm. This all-day course is designed for students ages 11-13.
In this one-day program, students will learn basic first aid, how to care for a choking infant, personal safety for the sitter, how to care for children (feeding, diapering, etc.), behavior management, babysitting as a business, and more! Fee is $65 per student.
Advanced registration is required, and space is limited. Call The River Center at 924-6800 or email info@nullrivercenter.us to request registration forms.
The River Center, a Family and Community Resource Center (46 Concord St., Peterborough), provides resources and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities through parenting support, economic opportunity programs, and community connections. Funding is provided in part by the Monadnock United Way, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and through the donations of local businesses and individuals.
In keeping with the tagline of The Dublin Advocate,
“to encourage and strengthen our community,”
our newsletter focuses on the dissemination of
community information and entertainment.
The editor reserves the right to select
and edit all material.
The Purple Finch
By Tom Warren
The Purple Finch, our state bird, is moderately common across the northern United States and eastern Canada, but has declined in recent years.
As Roger Tory Peterson famously described the male, it looks like a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice,” while the female is a drab, brownish-streaked bird looking more like a regular sparrow. It breeds here in the Monadnock Region.
Like many northern finches, it has periodic irruptions from the north into our area, usually when pinecone production in the north is low. This is the case this year. They are often seen with flocks of Pine Siskins, Goldfinches and Redpolls.
Ron Pittaway, a distinguished Canadian ornithologist, prepares a winter finch forecast from Toronto. Just last month, his prediction was for more Purple Finches and crossbills in our area. The next day 20 Purple Finches arrived at our feeders.
It feeds almost exclusively on buds and sunflower seeds. It prefers the small black-oil sunflower seeds. Large flocks will gather at feeders here in Dublin.
In the spring, the female builds a nest of sticks and twigs lined with fur, grasses and animal hair. Four eggs is the normal clutch. They hatch in 13-14 days.
In the bitterest cold following blizzards, they will break into their distinctive warbling song.
Tom Warren is a Trustee of the Harris Center for Conservation Education based in Hancock and New Hampshire Audubon.
Annual Autumn Area Art Exhibit
The Jaffrey Civic Center announces the final exhibit for the year, which began November 21 and runs through December 20. The photography portion is in the first floor Auditorium Gallery and the works of the 138 pieces of many mediums are in the second floor Cunningham Gallery.
This is our largest grouping of artwork for the 2014 year and comprises two- and three-dimensional representations from artists primarily of the area.
Since some of the artists works are for sale, there is an unusual opportunity to Christmas shop for a special gift. You won’t find this variety of talent in any store!
The Jaffrey Civic Center is located at 40 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH, next to Library, Parking in rear. Hours are Tues: 10-6, Wed-Fri 1-5, Sat 10-2. Admission is always free. For more information about us, call 532-6527, or visit jaffreyciviccenter.com.
Nowell Sing We Clear
By Larry Ames
The Monadnock Folklore Society presents the 40th season of ‘Nowell Sing We Clear’ at the Dublin Community Church at 8 pm on Friday, December 5. Admission is $15/$12 (seniors, youth, or in advance).
Nowell Sing We Clear has toured every year since 1975 sharing unusual songs, carols, stories, and customs. Drawn mostly from English-language folk traditions, the songs tell a version of the events and characters involved in the Christmas story and detail the customs that make up the 12 magical days and the gradual return of the light following the winter solstice. Many of these ancient customs are the basis of the today’s holiday traditions.
While much of the singing is done in unaccompanied style, the pageant is stamped with the energetic dance band sound of fiddle, button accordion, electric piano, drums, and concertina. The audience will be supplied with song sheets and encouraged to sing along, though after three decades of touring in New England, a whole generation of young people have grown up with these songs and carols.
Their CD, The Best of Nowell: 1976 – 1985, is popular in many households at this time of the year.
Larry Ames handles publicity for the Monadnock Folklore Society (www.monadnockfolk.org), which is the sponsor of this event.
Celebrate Christmas at a Show
Susie Burke and David Surette are coming to DelRossi’s on Saturday, December 20, at 8 pm ($15 at the door).
Known as New England’s favorite folk duo from Portsmouth, NH, the two perform seasonal and holiday gems featuring David’s mandolin virtuosity and Susie’s entrancing vocals; with special guest, multi-instrumentalist Kent Allyn.
David and Elaina DelRossi, proprietors since 1989, are celebrating 25 years in this location. They serve fine Italian cuisine, featuring their own homemade pasta.
DelRossi’s Trattoria is located on Rt. 137N in Dublin, NH. For reservations, call 603-563-7195.
Monadnock Chorus Brings Joy
To start off your holiday season, consider one of Monadnock Chorus’ performances of “Tidings of Joy” at the Peterborough Town House. The dates and times are Saturday, December 13 at 3 pm or Sunday, December 14 at 7 pm.
Animaterra’s Contributions to All
Animaterra women’s chorus will present ‘Festivals of Light,’ on December 6 (Keene) and 7 (Peterborough), featuring music from Scandinavia to Bosnia, from the British Isles to South Africa, and many places in between.
Animaterra is a women’s chorus in the Monadnock Region, led by artistic director Allison Aldrich Smith. It is a nonprofit organization, formed by women to interpret the world’s traditions through music. It welcomes all women in a community of song, reaching out to all people locally, regionally and globally.
Concerts will take place on Saturday, December 6, at 7:30 pm at the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church (69 Washington St., Keene, NH); and on Sunday, December 7, at 4 pm at the Union Congregational Church (33 Concord St., Peterborough, NH).
Suggested donation is $10 ($6 seniors and children). Proceeds benefit Monadnock Voices for Prevention, an organization working toward combating substance abuse in our community.
Please also bring a non-perishable food item to donate to local community kitchens.
For more information, please visit Animaterra at www.animaterrasings.org.
Frost Heaves for Holiday Laughter
Frost Heaves presents a brand-new Christmas special on December 12, 13 and 14 at the Peterborough Players Theatre, featuring Fred Marple, the Frost Heaves Players, the Speed Bumps band, and special musical guest, Craig Werth.
Dave Nelson will reprise his role as the Yankee Santa, the Yankee Shopping Channel will preview new toys for little New Englanders, and the band will write an original “Song on the Spot.” There will be prizes, surprises, and more!
Frost Heaves is appropriate for the whole family and “more fun than the time Earl Hadley put the Yule log in the microwave.”
Tickets are $18 at the Toadstool and Steele’s, online at frostheaves.com or by calling 525-3391.
2015 Wildlife Calendar from NH Fish and Game
Plus a full year of N.H. Wildlife Journal for $17.
For a limited time, you can buy N.H. Fish and Game’s award-winning wildlife calendar and N.H. Wildlife Journal magazine at http://www.wildnh.com/wilddeals. Treat yourself, or surprise the “wild ones” in your life with two gifts they’ll love! Place your order by December 3, and for just $17, you’ll get:
- A full year’s subscription to N.H. Wildlife Journal magazine
- The 2015 New Hampshire Wildlife Calendar
- Plus, for new subscribers, we’ll also include a free copy of the current issue of N.H. Wildlife Journal magazine.
To accept this special offer, go to the print-and-mail order form at: http://www.wildnh.com/wilddeals. Orders must be received by December 3, 2014. Please include payment or credit card information along with your order. Both current and new N.H. Wildlife Journal subscribers can take advantage of this special offer!
Don’t forget — in taking advantage of this WILD Deal, you’re helping New Hampshire Fish and Game conserve the wildlife and wild places in the Granite State. Thank you!
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