The event will take place August 1 at 9 am at Marshwood High School.  To find out more and to register go to hrdforbreastcancer.blogspot.com/ or go to Team Laffalots Home Run Derby Facebook page

For thirty-five consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers from South Berwick, have come together for  a South Berwick tradition. As always, official Festival activities will take place only on the grounds of Central School, on Main Street, in the center of town. A stop at the Strawberry Festival Information Booth is a must to find out more about the day’s schedule for the entertainers, as well as where all the various activities are located and to purchase strawberry festival memorabilia.

Preparation of the strawberries start on Friday, the morning before the Festival at the Community Center, where over a hundred and fifty volunteers get together for a good old fashioned social to hull, slice, and sugar the berries. Other volunteers slice the biscuits, prepare the whipped cream and move everything under the Strawberry Shortcake tent so all will be ready for the Festival goers when it opens at 9:00 am. Things stay pretty busy for the entire Festival that calls it quits at 4:00pm.
On the Friday before the Festival, there will be a roast beef supper hosted by our local First Parish Federated Church, which starts at 5:00pm

The Strawberry Festival Committee is pleased to announce that they we are continuing to serve Strawberry Shortcake and Cheesecake on biodegradable bowls, plates and spoons.  These items are made out sugar cane called Bagasse tableware.  Bagasse is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices.  Additionally, we will be recycling all of the hulls from the berries for anyone who would like them for composting. The boxes and the plastic containers for the berries will also be recycled.

Old Fashion Trolleys.
Transportation to and from the Festival is FREE via an old fashion trolley ride. Running every 20mins, the trolleys will provide free transportation to the Festival from parking locations at Marshwood Great Works School on Rt 236, Community Center on Norton St, Powder House Hill, and Agamenticus Field.

Strawberry Tent and Food
Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival. They will begin serving at 9:00am until we run out. Last year we served up over 250  cases of fresh strawberries, 85 gallons of whipped cream and over 330 dozen biscuits. Strawberry cheesecake has also been added to the menu and complimented with; you guessed it, strawberries. The costs of these items is still only $4.00.

In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes there is also a huge Food Court. There will be a pancake breakfast from 6:00 – 10:00. Throughout the day there will be other various food items sold by local non-profit groups. The Fire Dept will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and cold drinks. The Community Pantry will be serving up frozen lemon aid.  Knights of Columbus –fried dough, Masons–chicken BBQ and other assorted non-profit groups serving sandwich wraps, teriyaki, nachos, fruit cups, cotton candy and water.

Road Race
The day’s activities begin at 8:00am, a 5 mile Road Race and 2.5 mile Fun Walk, sponsored by the South Berwick Recreation Department and local businesses, kick off from Marshwood Middle School on Academy St.

Entertainment
Throughout the day, a variety of entertainers from around the area will be performing on two stages set up around the grounds.
•    At the Central School Field Stage, Marcus Gale gets things going at 9:00- 10:00; Northern Explosion Cloggers, a great group of cloggers, go on at 10:30,11:30, and 12:30. Funky Diva’s of Gospel at 2:00 – 4:00
•    At the Central School Front Court stage, Vic and sticks Recycled Rhythm Band at 9:00 and 10:00, Women of Note, an cappella group at 11:30 – 1:00; Rylie Harrod 1:30 – 2:00 and Seacoast Men of Harmony at 2:30 – 4:00
•    at 11:00,12:00 and 1:00;
•     In the Field Area from 9:00 – 4:00 Wildlife Encounters. For the kids there will be a climbing wall, pony rides, a giant tiger slide, dunking booth, exotic animals’ exhibition, pony rides, a bungee jumping setup and much more.

Crafts
Over 100 juried artisans will be on hand to display and sell their hand-made wares, including clothing, pottery, wood products, jewelry, paintings, photographs, candles, jams and dips, furniture, and much, much more. These crafters will be located both at the side of Central School and in the area around the food court.

Remember be kind to your pets and have them stay in the coolness of your home.

Find out more at  www.southberwickstrawberryfestival.com

Everything Wheels Parade - Kids' Day 2009

South Berwick Eliot Rotary Kids’ Day is just around the corner, set for this Saturday, June 5.  The festival will kick off with the Everything Wheels Parade at 11 am, beginning at the South Berwick Community Center and ending at Central School.  Kids of all ages are invited to ride bicycles, strollers, wagons and toy cars.

With many new activities added this year, festivities have extended out to the left, right, and back sides of Central School. The First Parish Federated Church is joining Kids’ Day and will be offering numerous activities and live music.  The popular “Touch a Truck” will be behind P. Gagnon & Son. Many Main Street businesses will offer their own Kids’ Day activities and goodies in front of their storefronts.  Early Bird Cafe, Pricepoint Eyewear, and Nature’s Way Market will all participate.   The Sarah Orne Jewett House will once again be hosting their Teddy Bear Doll Clinic on their back lawn.

Here are some of the scheduled events:

South Berwick Kids Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, June 5
11 a.m.: Everything Wheels Parade
11:30 a.m.: Leona Hosack, musician
11:30 a.m.: First Annual Pumpkinkid Fun Run (behind Central School)
11:30 a.m.: Rye Airfield skate demonstrations on the Halfpipe begin (right side of Central)
Noon: Tracy Kane, author of “Fairy Houses” and more, providing story time and building your own fairy houses on the school grounds
12:30 p.m.: South Berwick Fire Department demonstrating use of the Jaws of Life to dismantle a car and save a life (parking lot by Dunkin Donuts)
1 p.m.: “Just Bob and Marla” with puppet friends, an interactive musical participation event
1:30 p.m.: Jane Cowen-Fletcher, author of the new release, “Hello, Puppy!” will read one of her favorite books
2 p.m.: Family yoga with Lisa Flynn of Childlight Yoga
2:30 p.m.: Giant family Twister game, South Berwick Recreation coordinators

Many more events and activities will be going on continuously from 11 – 3.

Go to http://sbkidsday.blogspot.com for more information.

The Community Chorus at South Berwick Annual Fundraiser Plant Sale -  May 22, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and May 23, 9 a.m.-noon, rain or shine

Some 500 perennials, including ground covers, herbs, shade and sun plants, shrubs, and antique roses, all locally grown, and, thus, proven survivors of this climate, will be offered for sale  May 22, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and May 23, 9 a.m.-noon, rain or shine, at 266 Bolt Hill Road, Eliot, ME.  This two-acre property, fully landscaped by a former owner whose passion was gardening, contains specimen trees from all over the world as well as varieties of  flowering bushes, shrubs and other perennials found in New England but rarely as large and vigorous as they are here.  Winding paths lead to fountains, a gazebo, a hosta garden with18 varieties of this species, a white birch garden, and resting sites with garden furniture where one can pause to appreciate the wide array of mature plantings and possibly to observe the Baltimore oriole pair that frequently stops in.  The owners of this home often get – and grant – requests from couples (human ones) who wish to have their wedding photos taken in this garden.  All visitors are welcome to join guided tours of the garden spaces during the plant sale.

Many of the plants on sale are from this garden.  Coffee and muffins will be available for early birds (other than the orioles).  The well-known “Bird House Lady” will also be on hand to sell her prized wares.

Bolt Hill Road is off Route 236 at the blinking yellow light.

South Berwick Plant Sale to benefit the Gospel Music Project Saturday, May 22.

A plant sale featuring a large variety and some not so common home grown perennials will be held Saturday, May 22 at the First Parish Federated Church, 150 Main St., (corner of Main and Academy) South Berwick, starting at 9 am.

Proceeds from the sale will support The Gospel Music Project, a Seacoast-based non-profit and nondenominational organization dedicated to raising awareness of and educating audiences about gospel music and its positive impact on our history and culture.

“We are fortunate to have some very talented gardeners associated with the organization. All of our plants have been recently split from healthy larger plants. What we have for sale are good size and ready to be replanted,” described Gerri Bogdan, organizer of the sale and choir member.

Some of the more unusual plants featured will be Lamium, Brunerra and Astrantia Major (Masterwort) along with the more common Astilbe, Bee Balm and Garden Mum.

The Gospel Music Project sponsors the Rock My Soul Choir. It, along with other Gospel Music Project sponsored groups of singers and musicians, have become well known throughout northern New England for providing quality performances of roots based gospel music and educating their audiences about the rich history behind the songs.

For more information go to www.gospelmusicproject.org.

An “old school” community supper at Spring Hill Restaurant on  Wednesday, October 28th raised almost $3000.00, including a 100 gallon voucher donated by Steve Lizio, to supply local families with heating oil and “Keep South Berwick Warm” this winter.  Mark Gagnon of P. Gagnon & Sons has agreed to donate 1000 gallons of oil as well.

Soups and breads from nine local restaurateurs and bakers, raffle prizes from local merchants and a bucket at the front door for cash donations set the stage for a night of community fun at Spring Hill Restaurant. The old fashioned community fundraiser added to a fund that helps local families deal with heating costs during the winter.

Restaurants in South Berwick and York provided soups and breads for the event. Among them are: Nature’s Way Market, Pepperland, Forgarty’s, The Catered Event, Redbarn at the Outlook Farm,  The Black Bean, The Brixham General Store, Spring Hill Restaurant, When Pigs Fly Bread. Local merchants; Abby Chic, Salmon Falls Gardens, The Early Bird, Vacuum Village, the Little Hat Company provided prizes for raffles.   Jeff Lind and Carl Pehrsson entertained with acoustic jazz music.

“The money we raised from this supper, the raffle and any subsequent donations will give a family a few hours of heat or help with weatherization of their home” says Pat Robinson, one of the key organizers. “The support from the local restaurants and merchants made the event possible — the community’s generosity will really make a difference in local families’ lives this winter.”

The Fuel Fund is managed by SoBo Central, a recently incorporated non profit organization with the goal of bringing together five community projects into one tax-exempt nonprofit.  In addition to the Fuel Fund, other programs that have joined to create SoBo Central are Hot Summer Nights, which has run summer concerts for 10 years; Green Up, a local sustainability group formed last year; the South Berwick Community Food Pantry, formed to bring food to residents in need, and Smart Growth South Berwick, which is focused on nurturing the downtown and runs the annual Home for the Holidays event.

Donations to the Fuel Fund can still  be made directly to SoBo Central, c/o Fuel Fund, 9 York Woods Rd, South Berwick, ME 03908.  Write “Fuel Fund” on the memo line.  All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law

Soups and breads from nine local restaurateurs and bakers, raffle prizes from local merchants and a bucket at the front door for cash donations — on Wednesday, October 28th, from 5-7 PM the people of South Berwick are holding a very special supper at Spring Hill Restaurant, Pond Rd South Berwick. It is an old fashioned community fundraiser being held by townspeople working with Social Services to help local families deal with heating costs this winter. Just like days gone by, there’s no set donation or entry fee — there will be a bucket by the door where people can give whatever they can to help their neighbors get thru this difficult time

To that end, restaurants in South Berwick and York are pitching in and providing soups and breads for the event. Among them are: Nature’s Way Market, Pepperland, Forgarty’s, The Catered Event, Redbarn at the Outlook Farm,  The Black Bean, The Brixham General Store, Spring Hill Restaurant, When Pigs Fly Bread. Local merchants; Abby Chic, Salmon Falls Gardens, The Early Bird, Vacuum Village, the Little Hat Company, and Kimmi’s Best Biscotti are providing prizes for raffles to be held during the event. Tickets are also available ahead of time from The Early Bird and The So Berwick Pharmacy.  We also have Jeff Lind and Carl Pehrsson playing acoustic jazz music.

The money we raise from this supper, the raffle and any subsequent donations that are made will give a family a few hours of heat, or help with weatherization of their home” says Pat Robinson, one of the key organizers. “The support we’ve gotten from the local restaurants and merchants have been very enthusiastic — if we see the community responds the same way, the event should really make a difference in local families’ lives this winter. If people can’t come, we hope they’ll mail in a donation. We really hope to make sure that all of the families of South Berwick stay warm this winter.”

When residents make their donations to the South Berwick Fuel Fund this year, the checks will be written out to a new organization in town: SoBo Central.  SoBo Central was recently incorporated as a non profit organization with the goal of bringing together five community projects into one tax-exempt nonprofit.

In addition to the Fuel Fund, other programs that have joined to create SoBo Central are Hot Summer Nights, which has run summer concerts for 10 years; Green Up, a local sustainability group formed last year; the South Berwick Community Food Pantry, formed to bring food to residents in need, and Smart Growth South Berwick, which is focused on nurturing the downtown and runs the annual Home for the Holidays event.

“None of these groups had official non profit status and all are run mainly by volunteers. Many of the same people worked with two or more of the organizations, so the new group will help bring together overlapping causes and make all of the efforts stronger,” explains Nicole St. Pierre, SoBo Central Board President.

“Rather than have five groups with separate administrations, SoBo Central pulls them all together so they can share administrative functions and costs.  That makes them all more efficient,” says SoBo Central Treasurer, Dave Stansfield.

Donations to the Fuel Fund can also be made directly to SoBo Central, c/o Fuel Fund, 9 York Woods Rd, South Berwick, ME 03908.  Write “Fuel Fund” on the memo line.

All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law

Saturday’s sprint distance race consists of a 1/3 mile swim, 14 mile bike, and 3 mile run.  On Sunday the Pumpkinman Long Course is a half iron distance race consisting of a two lap swim course totaling 1.2 miles, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run.  Spring Hill Lodge in South Berwick is the starting and end point of each day’s race.

Expect to see race related activity all week as athletes come to town early to train and as athletes and spectators explore the area’s businesses and attractions.  Below is a list of roads that will be affected on the days of the races.

Find out more at the Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival website and in coverage by local media:

Andy on the Run: Pumpkinman is ‘intimate’
Foster’s Daily Democrat
There is a special feeling about this event that I don’t experience at other triathlons and I think a lot of it has to do with the location. Spring Hill is tucked away in a beautiful part of South Berwick….

Get Off the Couch: Pied Piper of triathlons
Seacoastonline.com
Exercising at the gym about a year ago, Thorne overheard a couple of people talking about how much fun they had had when competing in the Pumpkinman Triathlon, that included running, swimming and biking.  ”I had no idea what it was but they had this glow on their faces and it was obvious they were having so much fun,”

Traithlon is ultimate reality show
SeacoastOnline.com
When Kat Donatello began planning a little event called the Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival three years ago, she wasn’t thinking it would become a nationally recognized event. Now she is, very happily mind you, dealing with the reality that is has become an event on the national triathlon map…

Fancy sheep known as the Berwick Flock in the early 1900s appear in one of 14 historic photographs featured in a new 2010 calendar published by the Old Berwick Historical Society.  It sells for $12 at South Berwick Pharmacy and the Counting House Museum.

An old fire truck, the South Berwick town hall when it used to be in a church, sheep known as the Berwick Flock, and a mystery house on Witchtrot Road – these are all examples of local historic photos featured in a new calendar for 2010, published by the Old Berwick Historical Society.

Selling for $12, the calendars are now available at South Berwick Pharmacy, the Counting House Museum and all Old Berwick Historical Society events.  Proceeds benefit the museum and the society’s year-round public local history events.

Each calendar contains 14 large historic photographs and an excerpt of the map of South Berwick from the Atlas of York County, 1872.  The map identifies individual houses by the owner’s name.

The Counting House Museum, owned by the historical society, is a repository for documents, photographs and historic curiosities covering a spectrum of community life in and around the Berwicks.  It is open weekends from 1 to 4 pm through October and year round by appointment.  Admission is free.

Buy from these local food growers and producers, including several from South Berwick:

Berry Best Farm, Lebanon, Me: fresh picked fruit and jams
Borealis Breads, Wells, Me: whole grain breads, pastries, cookies
Buddha’s Burning Buns, S. Berwick, Me: cookies, granola and dry mixes
Catch a Piece of Maine, Portland, Me: lobster rolls, salad and cooked lobster meat
Cricket Corner Soapworks, NH, herbal soaps and salves
Dan’s Delectable Bee Barf, S. Berwick, Me: honey and fruit
Farmfield Greenhouses, Lebanon, Me: annuals, perennials and hanging baskets
Juniper Ledge Farm, S. Berwick, Me: organic veggies, herbs and some pastries
Kelly Orchards, Acton, Me: apples, cider, peaches, berries, fall squashes and pumpkins
Little Cottage Baking Co., Sanford, Me: fudge, peanut brittle, and sweets
Outlaw Farm, Rochester, NH: free-range Hereford beef
Spiller Farm, Wells, Me: wide variety of veggies and fruits
The Coop Co-op, N. Berwick, Me: free-range eggs
Tic-Toc Farm, N. Berwick, Me: variety of veggies, fruits and flowers
Zach’s Farm, York, Me: sweet corn, melons, veggies, and flowers

Enough with the words, here are some pictures:
Baxter the Maine Library Coon Cat greeted kids and families as they gathered for the Everything Wheels parade.

There was a clown and Smokey the Bear from the Maine State Parks too.

People with all kinds of wheels got ready for the parade.

Central School Principal, Vicki Stewart was the Grand Marshall.

The Everything Wheels parade started and the kids and all their wheeled vehicles began to wend their way from the Community Center to Central School.

And still more rolled onto the street.

There were all kinds of bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, skateboards, skates, and even cars.

Balloons, bright colors, and lots of happy kids made it a great parade.

There was even a pirate ship with a very cute pirate.

Bill Page and friends rode a bicycle built for four.

Town Manager John Schempf and an American eagle walk along the parade route.

Along the route other parents and children watched the procession of kids and their wheels.  More than one said, “Next year we’ll be in the parade.”

The parade ended at Central School where there were all kinds of activities.  Here children lined up for free bicycle helmets donated by the Kiwanis Club.

Sammie Haynes and friends led a sing-along.

There were lawn games.

Up and down Main St. there was fun to be had.  Here, the Strawberry Festival hands out cotton candy.

At Historic New England’s Sarah Orne Jewett House there was a teddy bear and doll hospital dispensing sewing repairs, bandages, and kindness to much loved toys.

Community organizations sold treats.  Here the Marshwood Class of 2012 sells PB&J sandwiches to raise money for class activities.

The Touch A Truck area behind P. Gagnon & Son was a popular place with kids getting to see all kinds of big trucks up close.

Even getting a chance to sit in the driver’s seat.

Inside P. Gagnon & Son a display  of Lego constructions showed the creativity of the town’s young Lego experts.

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