The Merlin Is Here
By Tom Warren
As we approach the hawk migration season in the Monadnock Region, the Merlin, a small, dashing falcon draws our attention to the ridgelines of the Monadnock Mountains. It is a small falcon that once was called a Pigeon Hawk, owing to its love of pigeons as prey and also to its resemblance to a pigeon in flight. It follows migrating songbirds south from September to November.
Females are 25% to 30% larger than males. Males have a dorsal gray to blue-gray plumage. Females are mostly brown with light bands and a terminal white band on their tails.
While the Merlin is a forest bird, it hunts on open lands near bodies of water or along the seacoast. It likes to stand on a tree where it has an unobstructed view to sight its prey, usually small songbirds. It has been observed to fly into flocks of blackbirds and come out with “one in each fist.” They also eat insects, mainly dragonflies. Hunting success is mostly 5% to 20% in autumn, but higher during breeding season in May and June.
The name Merlin is derived from esmerillon, the French word for this falcon. Because of its small size, the Merlin is not used by falconers for hawking large birds. In Europe it was popular as a “lady’s hawk” and was used in flights directed at skylarks. Catherine the Great and Mary Queen of the Scots were enthusiasts of this sport. These lark flights are a tradition in Great Britain today although falconers are being pressured to stop the practice.
The Merlins migrate through Dublin in the autumn, fly to coastal Florida and the Greater Antilles but do not go as far as Central and South America. They fly very low, just above the water. Peak migration is October 1 to 15.
During migration at Pack Monadnock, Merlins often swoop at a fake owl perched on a pole to attract birds.
In recent years, a Merlin is believed to have nested in the woodlot behind the Catlin residence at the western end of Dublin Lake. This photo was taken in April of this year in the yard of Loring Catlin, Jr.
Come to my hawkwatch Sept. 14 on Pack Monadnock from 10 am to 3 pm. Bring lunch, snacks, and water.
Tom Warren is Dublin’s resident ornithologist, and serves as a trustee of both the Harris Center and the Audubon Society.
The Annual Hawkwatch
By Francie Von Mertens
NH Audubon’s fall hawkwatch at Miller State Park atop Pack Monadnock officially opens September 1 and will be staffed through November 15. The annual fall migration celebration is Sept. 19, all day, timed to coincide with large flights of broad-winged hawks. A rehabilitated hawk will be released back to the wild at 1 p.m. — always a thrill to witness. People are encouraged to arrive early for the release.
I’ll be giving a hawkwatch workshop Mon., Sept. 14, 7 pm, at Shieling State Forest barn in Peterborough to talk about what to watch for and when, with some ID tips for hawks in flight. Each raptor species counted has its own migration timetable and flight behaviors, from American kestrels through turkey vultures.
Besides hawks passing by and great views, the human companionship up on the watch is enjoyable, too. The hawkwatch site is reached after a short walk north of the summit parking area, just off Route 101. All are welcome.
Francie Von Mertens writes about the fall hawk migration and other topics relating to nature and the environment in her Backyard Birder column in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. She’s a longtime volunteer with NH Audubon, the Harris Center, and Peterborough Conservation Commission.
Dublin Public Library
A casual group of children and caregivers, moms, dads, and grandparents gather on Wednesday mornings at the Dublin Public Library to listen to stories, sing songs, and do a little stretching. The children enjoy a snack while practicing their table manners and then do a craft that relates to the books that were read. Puzzles and puppets are available as well. Mark your calendar for the following Wednesdays: September 2: From Head to Toe, Where Does it Go? September 9: Meet My Family, September 16: Apples, September 23: Autumn Begins, and September 30: Teddy Bear Day. Programs begin at 9:30 am.
Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee? Seen the movie? Read newly published Go Set a Watchman. It takes place 20 years after To Kill a Mockingbird, a catch-up of the people in the first book. The library has three copies of Go Set a Watchman. So before you get caught up in all the busyness of fall, come in and take out a copy.
Wide-Open World by John Marshall is about a family who packed up, unplugged, took their children and traveled the world volunteering. This was an education course in volunteering that allowed the entire family to gather knowledge and awareness of life.
Books
Who Let the Dog Out? By D. Rosenfelt
God Help the Child by T. Morrison
The Marriage of Opposites by A. Hoffman
Beach House by D. Caswell
The Naked Eye by I. Johansen
On Becoming Baby Wise by G. Ezzo
The Oregon Trail by R. Buck
Wide-Open World by J. Marshall
Go Set a Watchman by H. Lee
Coupon Professor Visits Dublin Public Library
The Extreme Coupon Professor will give an hour-long presentation on Saturday, September 12, from 10 am to noon, courtesy of the Friends of the Dublin Public Library.
Whether you are a retired couple of two or a family of seven, the Coupon Professor promises to save you enough money to go to Disneyland — or maybe on that cruise you’ve been thinking of.
He will cover where to get coupons, how to use coupons, how to stock up without hoarding, and when to shop and not use coupons. Come to a presentation you cannot afford to miss!
DCC Community Supper
Join us for a community supper Tuesday, September 29, at the Dublin Community Church from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the vestry of the church. All are welcome.
MESA Meets in October
The Monadnock Eastern Slope Association’s (MESA) annual potluck meeting is open to all. October 25 is the date, the Dublin Community Center is the place, 5 pm the time. We have a remarkable speaker coming and, as always, good food. Watch this space for more information. If you would like to be informed by email, send a note to Ed Germain via edgermain@nullearthlink.net.
30th Annual Craft Fair on Yankee Field
Bring a friend and enjoy the fun.
The 30th annual Dublin Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, September 12 (with a rain date of September 13). Artisans from all over New England gather in a beautiful outdoor setting to present a variety of handcrafted items for sale.
“There are so many talented craftspeople in New England and we have a really great core group who participate every year,” said organizer Linda Clukay, “along with crafters who join us for the first time. This is a great place to find gifts for friends, family, or something special just for yourself. The quality and variety are excellent.”
Among the items for sale this year will be jewelry, fabric crafts of all types, rag rugs and baskets, soaps and lotions, jams and jellies, wood carvings, wooden rocking boats, photography, wildlife art, alpaca fleece and yarn, stained glass and much more.
The ConVal Hockey Boosters will be running a refreshment booth as a fundraising project.
The sale will run from 10 am to 3 pm at the Yankee Field on Rte. 101 in Dublin. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking adjacent to the sales area. Entry into the parking area is from Monument Road. Come one, come all.
Dublin’s Own Gas Engine Meet
The 44th Annual Dublin Gas Engine Meet will be held on September 11, 12 and 13 at Cricket Hill Farm, located on Route 101 between Dublin and Peterborough. It will include an array of antique one-lunger engines, antique tractors and cars, working machinery and other items of similar vintage. Food will be available onsite. Daily admission is $5 per person (children 16 years and under are free). It will be held rain or shine. Come and reminisce! For more information, contact dublinnhgasenginemeet.com.
Loosestrife Project: Galerucella Beetle Release
By Miriam Carter
In early August, members of the Dublin Conservation Commission (DCC) and the Dublin Garden Club gathered to release hard-working Galerucella beetles, which have helped to restore and naturalize Loosestrife in our town. Since 2008 these two organizations have worked together to successfully manage the beautiful but invasive plant. Both of these organizations share the cost and provide the volunteers to distribute the beetles.
These little bugs are no larger than the tip of one’s finger and enjoy the culinary aspects of the plant. The bugs released this year will eat their fill (much like bears preparing for winter) and then burrow into the ground for a long winter’s nap. They will go back into action next year. Some people may wonder if the beetles are really doing their job because we still see Loosestrife. The answer is a resounding Yes! The beetle colonies have helped to regain the natural balance of Loosestrife. They will not eradicate it…simply keep it in check.
Miriam Carter is chair of the Dublin Conservation Commission
Highway Barn: September Planting Project
By Miriam Carter
The Conservation Commission has finalized its plans for restoration of the area in front of the Town Highway Barn that was affected by last year’s timber cut.
Warrant Article 22, passed at Town Meeting last March, allowed for trees to be purchased to help restore and naturalize that area, improving its appearance and eventually replacing the visual buffer between Cobb Meadow Road and the Highway Barn.
With the help of Brian Barden, soil will be brought in to create a berm for easier planting between large tree stumps. Plant material native to our area will be used.
This is a volunteer project, and it can only happen with the help of the neighbors and interested townspeople. Our tentative planting dates are the last two weekends of September (9/19 and 9/26). Once the dates are finalized, they will be posted on the Town website. Please bring a shovel, rake, and garden gloves.
Your assistance in helping to plant trees and/or assist with watering them will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Mary Langen at 721-9446 or maryl@nullsynergivity.com to sign up.
Miriam Carter is chair of the Dublin Conservation Commission.
Police Receive Award from Senator
Dublin Police Chief Stephen Sullivan and his staff recently received word that the department will be awarded a New Hampshire Congressional Law Enforcement Award in the “Unit Citation” category.
In a letter to the Chief, Senator Jeanne Shaheen wrote that the “Dublin Police Department displayed tremendous courage during the events of October 8, 2014, when responding to the rioters in Keene.”
The awards ceremony will take place at 6 pm on October 16 at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training facility in Concord.
The Boutwells on the Home Front
By Margaret Gurney
Charlotte and Jeff Boutwell moved to Dublin on Labor Day, 1972. They continued to work at their respective jobs in Keene until they retired in 1988-89. Since then, they’ve been busy making furniture, gardening, and keeping up their ship-shape house and grounds on Goldmine Road.
“We stayed home a lot, minding our own business more or less,” laughs Charlotte. She says she did not start getting acquainted with people until they became friendly with Mary and Albert Rajaniemi, who used to take walks past their house.
“Mary introduced me to the Dublin Community Church; she and I would go together until she left, and it was the best thing I ever did. It reminded me of when I was in Lempster, ‘cause I always went to church.”
Charlotte was born on a farm, the youngest of ten children in the Nichols family, and grew up with the younger five brothers in the large family home in Lempster, NH. Charlotte adds, “I’m the only one left.” They grew potatoes, dried and sold them from the porch; they picked apples, cherries, pears, raspberries, blueberries, and sold them to country stores. She explained that whenever they cleared land, blackberries came up. The house had been in her father’s family since 1773, but he was the last generation to keep it.
“We did not have the glories of rich people, but we survived, we were happy. One set of skis was given to us, one pair of skates, whether they fit or not,” Charlotte reminisced.
“We would walk more than a mile to school,” she said. Once in high school, Charlotte rode to school in Newport with her brother, and stayed the weeknights with her sister Louise, who lived there. After high school, Charlotte went to work for New England Telephone and Telegraph.
But it was in high school, Charlotte recalls, that she first met the man who was to become her husband: “I can tell you what seat he sat in the first day of school (second row, last seat). He was into sports, no time for girls all through high school!”
But when Jeff was drafted in August 1944, before he had a chance to finish high school, his mother placed his name and rank in the local paper, and Charlotte began to write to him. “He came home every Christmas; he was in the European theatre, the Battle of the Bulge.” Thank you, Jeff.
Jeff was presented with his high-school diploma in spring of 1959, under the American flag that flies proudly in their front yard here in Dublin.
When the war was over, Charlotte and Jeff married in February 1947, and lived in Newport. In 1952, while Jeff was working in a furniture factory, Charlotte would catch a ride to Keene from her brother Orson to work at National Grange. She worked in data processing, and was promoted to supervisor of clerical staff in claims. She went from there to Peerless Insurance, where they again made her a supervisor. She eventually moved into “personnel. Now they call it Human Resources” (HR). Charlotte worked at Peerless for 33 years, retiring in December 1989. Jeff worked 36 years at Sprague & Carleton Inc. in Keene as a foreman overseeing the sanding of new furniture. It’s no wonder he puttered around in his workshop after he retired in 1988, the same year the company closed its doors.
Back at home, Jeff and Charlotte raised two daughters, Linda and Diane, and are very proud of their three grandchildren. She displays at least three generations of family photos in her family room, and we borrowed just a couple from her photo album. It’s a job keeping it all up to date. In 1951, when there was a family reunion at the Nichols Homestead, many relatives came to see her and brought their families. In addition to their grandchildren, Jeff and Charlotte have four great-grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren; and they have seven step great-grandchildren.
Charlotte says of herself, “I am a shy person; always was, even when I worked. I never opened up; maybe that’s why they kept me around.”
But since then, for those of us who know her, Charlotte shares her feelings, seeds from her perennials, and her open heartedness.
Margaret Gurney is editor of the Advocate.
The Origin of Labor Day
By Rusty Bastedo
The post-Civil War decades were years of American unrest, in both politics and in labor. American railroads controlled the prices of goods going to market, and as early as 1868 American farmers organized against railroads’ price fixing. The farmers’ organization was called the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, a.k.a. the Grange. Grange-sponsored lecturers traveled the country, talking with farmers about new crops, about new negotiating ideas, and about how to resist the railroads while getting their farm crops to market.
In the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s other efforts to organize American labor against the forces of Big Management were legion, as strikes, financial panics and political turmoil roiled the American landscape. The so-called Robber Barons, the “fortunate few,” controlled the lives of millions of rapidly industrializing American workingmen and workingwomen. Pinkerton detectives were hired by railroad management to open fire from a railroad roundhouse on striking railroad workers at Baltimore during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877; other labor-management battles were to follow.
New York City and New Jersey experienced the joining together of New York’s Brotherhood of Joiners and Carpenters with Paterson, New Jersey’s International Association of Machinists in 1882. The new organization was called the Central Labor Union, and in its shadow myriad groups of workers, many of them new immigrants to America, began to form their own labor organizations. [The cigar makers of New York City were one such group; the new immigrants were organized in 1890 by Samuel Gompers, a longtime president of the future American Federation of Labor.]
The first Labor Day holiday was organized in New York City by the Central Labor Union on September 5, 1882. The next year the Labor Day holiday took place again, on September 5, 1883. Not until 1884 was the first Monday in September named as a specific date for the holiday, and the Central Labor Union began to urge that other industrial centers’ labor organizations also celebrate “a workingman’s holiday” on that date. In 1885 several municipalities celebrated Labor Day as a holiday and in 1885-1886 municipalities began to pass municipal ordinances recognizing Labor Day. The first state law making Labor Day an official state holiday was passed by the Oregon state legislature, February 21, 1887. The state legislatures of Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York soon acted to create the holiday by legislative enactment and, by 1890, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had done the same. By 1894, 23 more states had created the “workingman’s holiday,” and on June 28, 1894, the U.S. Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September an annual legal holiday in the District of Columbia and American territories.
Over the years since 1894, Labor Day celebrations have evolved from giant parades and mass displays to smaller celebrations. But Labor Day still celebrates the American worker, whose labor has given us the greatest industrial and agricultural production, and the highest standard of living, that the world has ever known.
Russell Bastedo, formerly New Hampshire State Curator from 1997 to 2009, has served on the staff of the Advocate.
What’s in a Name?
By Felicity Pool
Like other roads in New England, Page Road probably grew in pieces until reaching its current end points: Upper Jaffrey Road to the west and Windmill Hill Road to the east. In between, the way is both winding and watery – passing Thorndike Pond, paralleling Stanley Brook and then curving south across Mills Brook.
The land sustained many households back in the day. The most prominent, Derby Farm, was settled in 1772 by Bartholomew Goyer, a Revolutionary War soldier who was captured and held by Indians in 1783. Goyer sold the farm to Samuel Derby, who was 25 years old, in 1796. Derby married Lois Twitchell of Dublin, the first of his three wives, that same year. Nine of his children survived into adulthood. Miss Edith Page, from Newton, Massachusetts, bought the property from the Derby heirs in 1891.
Like Derby (who is described in town histories as “energetic and active”), Page farmed with enthusiasm and built a dairy herd. The 1809/1810 farmhouse pictured here burned and was rebuilt in 1895 and Page constructed an additional house in 1895/6 apparently surrounded by extensive gardens. In 1916, the year Miss Page died, this second house also burned. Although no confirming records exist, it seems the road was named for Edith Page since no one else of that name lived there.
Town maps show various former-but-now-disappeared houses further east along Page Road, as well as a grist and saw mill near what is now Stonewall Farm. The mill was built in the 1760s by Samuel Twitchell, said to be Dublin’s third permanent settler. Twitchell’s mill foundation can still be seen at the outlet of Thorndike Pond and his accomplishments as miller, farmer, Revolutionary War militia company captain, and State Representative are well documented.
Other early property owners along Page Road include Simeon Bullard at the west end, and Joel Wight (Samuel Twitchell’s brother-in-law) and Robert Fiske in the middle. The latter properties were sold for farming to two members of the Gowing family. Samuel Whitney Hale, Governor of New Hampshire from 1882 to 1883, briefly owned both properties and used the timber for woodenware manufacture. The former Fiske property is now owned by Dublin Christian Academy. At his death in 1916, summer resident and gentleman farmer Louis Cabot owned eight properties in southeast Dublin, including the former Twitchell, Wight, and Fiske farms.
Felicity Pool is a member of the Dublin Historical Society.
Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery Exhibits
At the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, a public reception and program will take place September 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, for the exhibit by Jules Olitski called Lakes, Mountains, Seas, which will be open from September 4 to December 4.
To honor the Thorne’s 50th anniversary, the gallery presents works reflecting the theme of land and seascapes that the artist revisited throughout his career.
From September 19 to October 21, the Thorne will feature an exhibit titled ReTooled: Highlights from the Hechinger Collection, bringing to life the unexpected subject of tools in imaginative paintings, sculpture, works on paper, and photographs.
From September 19 through December 4, the Thorne presents Angus McCullough in an exhibit called Float, featuring recent works from the Vermont-based artist’s Dirt, Moisture, Theft series.
Exhibits are free at the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, located on Wyman Way at Keene State College, and hours are Sundays through Wednesdays from 12 to 5 pm; Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 7 pm, and Saturdays from 12 to 8 pm. Please contact thorne@nullkeene.edu, www.keene.edu/tsag, or call 358-2720.
Ever wonder why there’s no litter along Cobb Meadow? It is due largely to the efforts of Yvonne Murray (at right), who walks it daily, and sometimes with her friends, Candy Walker and Penny Smith.
Yankee Barn Sale Held July 25th
The Yankee Barn Sale held every summer brings Dubliners together in a special way. Here are a few of our residents plying their wares.
Art Opening September 4 at the Hub
The works of two Dublin artists will grace the walls of the Dublin Community Center (aka The Hub) during September, with the opening on Friday, September 4, from 5 to 7 pm.
Stevee Greeff has been painting from a young age, studying art both in school and with various artists since she returned from Europe in the 1990s. Influenced by her father’s wallpaper and fabric business throughout her life, she spent a number of years as a decorative artist. Her work has been shown and sold in the States, Canada and Europe. She is a member of the Palm House Gallery and Studio in Vero Beach, FL.
Suzan Macy’s natural talent and studies evolved into a career as one of the first female art directors working among the “Mad Men” in several large NYC advertising agencies, and she started her own agency with a partner in Westport, CT. In recent years Suzan has returned to her first love, oil painting. This is her first semi-solo show since the 1960s when she showed in Toronto and Montreal. Locally her oil paintings have hung at the Sharon Arts Center and the Jaffrey Civic Center.
September at the Hub
The Hub (aka the Dublin Community Center) is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am till 5:30 pm with free coffee served both days until noon. All are welcome to drop in and see the art show of the month. The opening for two September artists will be on Friday, September 4, from 5 to 7 pm.
On September 11, we have an Open Mic (7-9 pm); September 15 is our Community Lunch (12-1 pm); September 19 is Movie Night (7-9 pm).
And on Mondays from 12-1 pm is Kids Yoga; and Zumba on Monday evenings (5:30-6:30 pm).
On Wednesdays from 12-1 pm is QiGong and, on Wednesday afternoons, a new yoga course offering is from Margaret Gurney from 4 to 5:15 pm. All are welcome.
Tenth Annual Wellness Festival
By Mary Loftis
The Monadnock Rotary Club presents its tenth annual Wellness Festival on Saturday, September 26, at the Peterborough Community Center on Elm Street from 9 am to 2 pm.
At 8 am preceding the event, the ConVal School District Wellness Committee will sponsor a family- and pet-friendly Walk for Wellness (approximately 5K), which will begin and end at the Community Center.
The day’s events include health screenings, fitness mini-classes, a farmer’s market and the famous Soup Fest, in which local restaurants and organizations compete for prizes and bragging rights. There will also be live music throughout the day.
Come for a day of fun and inspiration to help you tune up your health regimen before winter rolls around again.
Mary Loftis is on the staff of the Advocate.
HCS to Offer Health Screenings at Annual Wellness Festival
Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS) is offering a variety of health screenings at the tenth annual Wellness Festival in Peterborough. Come visit the HCS booth at the Peterborough Community Center on Saturday, September 26, between 10 am and 2 pm. Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services is a Monadnock United Way agency.
MFS Presents on September 3 in Nelson
Troy MacGillivray returns to the Nelson Town Hall with acclaimed Cape Breton fiddler Andrea Beaton on Thursday, September 3, at 7:30 pm (admission $15 —$12 senior, student, or in advance).
Troy MacGillivray, raised in Lanark, Nova Scotia, attributes his musical prowess to a rare combination of commitment and bloodline. By the age of six, Troy was already impressing audiences with his step-dancing skills. By 13 he was teaching piano at the renowned Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Anne’s, Cape Breton. He has completed grade seven of the Toronto Conservatory of Music for classical piano, has spent four years in a stringed orchestra and has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music from St. Francis Xavier University.
Whether playing piano or fiddle, or showcasing his step-dancing capabilities, Troy MacGillivray displays pride and commitment to his Celtic heritage and his music continues to add to the history and development of the traditional music that is the epitome of the Maritimes, the place he calls home.
One of Cape Breton’s most promising young fiddlers, Andrea Beaton comes by her music honestly. She’s the youngest of generations of Beaton musicians. Her father, Kinnon, is one of today’s most influential Cape Breton fiddlers, and you can hear some of his timing in Andrea’s playing. Her mother, Betty Beaton, is one of the great piano accompanists of her generation.
Her paternal grandfather, Donald Angus Beaton, was one of the most popular players of his generation, and you can hear some of his power in her playing. Her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Beaton, is a strongly rhythmic piano player, with a great love of the music. Born in 1979, Andrea grew up surrounded by music and dance.
Please join the Monadnock Folklore Society for an exhilarating evening of traditional music presented by some of the best young talent around. Contact Larry Ames at 547-8809, lsames@nullworldpath.net, or visit www.monadnockfolk.org.
Fall 2015 Programs at The River Center
Ongoing Parenting Groups at The River Center, Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, allow parents to meet informally, facilitated by parent educators Wendy Hill, Bonnie Harris, or Kelli Tourgee. The group delves into the various stages of development and what to expect of our children throughout those stages.
Plus, a Safe Sitter Babysitting Training, which takes place October 9, is a program for 11-14 year olds to learn life-saving skills. Other group gatherings include Money Matters: Your Money, Your Goals on Mondays; Job Seekers MeetUp on Tuesdays from 12 pm to 1 pm.
Dave DeWitt offers Job Skills—Free Workshops: How to Start a Career in Manufacturing, with an Introduction to QuickBooks, Basic Computer Skills, and an Introduction to PowerPoint.
On 9/17 and/or 9/24, The River Center is hosting an Open House from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm. Learn about The River Center while your children enjoy activities and playtime.
The River Center also offers enriching experiences and age-appropriate activities for children from 1 through 5 years old.
To register or get more information, find us at 46 Concord St. in Peterborough, please contact The River Center at 924-6800 or info@nullrivercenter.us.
Transportation for Everyone, By Everyone
CVTC was created to meet the transportation needs of the Eastern Monadnock communities through the goodwill of volunteer drivers, who can be reimbursed for mileage and can choose to offer rides at their own convenience.
But what CVTC offers is more than getting people to their destinations. It helps strengthen communities by reducing isolation and increasing inclusiveness. People of all ages and abilities can meet each other and share experiences and ideas. Ultimately, transportation is about meeting basic human needs: the essentials of food, shelter, and safety requires transportation to the workplace, to the store, and to medical care.
In a country where the freedom to hop in a car and go anywhere on the spur of the moment is taken for granted, people without such freedom lose control over their daily lives. They may lose the ability to remain in the community they love, or the house they have spent their lives in, simply because they have no transportation.
You can become a volunteer driver, or you can ask for a ride. Contact CVTC, 1-877-428-2882 x 5, or look online at cvtc-nh.org. Thank you!
20th Annual Art Tour
By Mary Loftis
2015 marks the 20th year for the annual Art Tour sponsored by Monadnock Art / Friends of the Dublin Art Colony. This year’s tour will be held on Columbus Day weekend, October 10 and 11, and will include 45 studios in Dublin, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Marlborough, Peterborough, and Sharon.
It is the mission of Monadnock Art “to celebrate the vital and continuing role of the visual arts in the Monadnock area – from the artists who gathered in Dublin at the turn of the 19th century to the hundreds of artists who live and work throughout the region today.”
The Tour provides a rare opportunity to visit artists in their studios and to talk with them about their art. The first six artists on this year’s map live in Dublin:
- Paul Tuller on Pierce Rd. uses traditional Japanese hand tools to create furniture and traditional Japanese interiors. The tour will include a Japanese timberframe building on his property.
- Rebecca Welsh on Old County Rd. will show naturally dyed silk scarves and fiber hats as well as paintings.
- Maryann Mullett on Dooe Rd. will show her award-winning pastel paintings of subjects from the natural world.
- David Nelson on Lower Jaffrey Rd. (Rt. 137) will show colorful large-scale paintings in acrylic.
- Edith Tuttle on Windmill Hill Rd. will show oil and watercolor paintings of subjects drawn from her environment.
- Susan Barker on Old Marlborough Rd. creates statement-making jewelry with sterling silver and unique beads.
In addition, Jane Simpson of Dublin will be sharing the Harrisville studio of her friend Christine Destrempes. Jane creates exquisitely crafted mixed-media artworks using paper and natural elements.
In the two decades since it began, the Art Tour has become a highlight of the autumn, in which the color of the changing leaves competes with the color bursting out of the artists’ studios throughout the region.
Visit www.MonadnockArt.org or look for a map at the Dublin General Store or Carr’s.
Mary Loftis is on the staff of the Advocate.
September at the Peterborough Players
By Fred Leventhal
The final production in the 2015 season is a one-man interpretation of Shakespeare’s epic poem, The Rape of Lucrece. This adaptation by Dan Hodge, who made his professional debut with the Players more than a decade ago, has garnered rave reviews and audience approval wherever it has been performed.
Hodge, the founder of the Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, won the first-ever James Whitmore Award for Outstanding Member of the Second Company at the Players and the Barrymore Award more recently in Philadelphia. Hodge describes The Rape of Lucrece as “at once modern, timeless, horrifying, and challenging.”
There will be five performances: Sept. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m., and Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. A talkback with Hodge will follow the performance on Friday evening.
Fred Leventhal, a Dublin resident, is a trustee of the Peterborough Players.