Harvey Reid kicks off the series on July 4. A well loved local musician, Reid has performed extensively and garnering national recognition as one of the true treasures of American acoustic music. Reid’s music includes a range of influences from folk to rockabilly and a vast repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs. This concert marks Mr. Reid’s 20th year performing in the Hamilton House Garden and the centennial year of Historic New England. Celebrate both on July 4 at Hamilton House!

The concert series continues on July 11 with a performance by Salt River. Salt River members Lee Hosack, Mike and Beverly Rogers and Cathy King perform traditional and original music reflecting the lifestyle and people of New England. Their folk/blues style is accented by their vocal harmonies and Mike’s signature harmonica. You won’t be able to keep your toes from tapping and your hands from clapping.

Cellist/singer-songwriter Kristen Miller returns to the garden on July 18. Miller electrifies her antique cello to redefine the instrument in the tradition of folk, rock, and world music. In her live performances, Miller uses digital recording to layer earthy cello timbres with percussion, spoken word, and singing. The result is a rich tapestry of harmony, rhythm, and deep melodic contour that Billboard writer Bobby Borg calls “hauntingly, charmingly, brilliant.”

The Sundays in the Garden Concert Series concludes on July 25 with the Maine Squeeze Accordion Ensemble. Enjoy a fun afternoon of eclectic ethnic music from around the world, from traditional foot-tapping polkas to waltzes to zydeco.

In celebration of Historic New England’s centennial, members receive free admission to all 2010 concerts. For information on how to become a Historic New England member please visit www.historicnewengland.org. Admission for non-members is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $4 for children over 12. This year’s concert series is sponsored in part by Kennebunk Savings Bank.

Hamilton House is open for tours Wednesday- Sunday until mid-October. Tours begin at the garden cottage on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. House tours are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for children, and free to Historic New England members. The price of the house tour is not included with concert admission.

Hamilton House is located on Vaughan’s Lane, adjacent to Vaughan Woods State Park, a mile off Route 236 in South Berwick. The site is one of 36 house museums owned and operated by Historic New England, the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the country. For more information, please contact the South Berwick Office of Historic New England at (207) 384-2454 or visit www.historicnewengland.org.

The Landscape and Garden Tour leaves from the Visitor Center in the brown garden cottage at Hamilton House, 40 Vaughan’s Lane, South Berwick, on Thursday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m. Admission for Historic New England members is $8, $12 for non-members. Participants may tour the house the day of the Landscape and Garden Tour at no additional cost. Space on the tour is limited. Please register by calling the Historic New England Regional Office at 207-384-2454 or online at www.HistoricNewEngland.org.

Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the country. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the lives and stories of New Englanders through their homes and possessions.

The Sarah Orne Jewett House is open for regular tours Friday – Sunday until mid-October. Tours begin on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free to Historic New England members and South Berwick residents. $5 for non-members. For more information, call 207-384-2454 or visit www.historicnewengland.org.

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

The Mt A Conservation partners will be at the lodge for this glimpse of what is to come when the Learning Lodge is established as a beacon of environmental education at the summit of Mount Agamenticus.

There will be ongoing activities such as multiple raffle drawings with some wonderful prizes, children’s activities to include wildlife identification and track casting, and scheduled guided walking tours.

Schedule of Guided Walks:
Mount A guided trails exploration:   10:45am – 12:00pm
Guided bird & nature walk:              11:00am – 12:00pm
Orienteering Presentation:               12:00pm – 1:00pm
Guided hike to Vernal Pool:             1:00pm – 3:30pm
Mount A guided trails exploration:   1:30pm – 2:30pm
Raptor identification presentation:  2:00pm – 2:40pm
Tree identification walk:                   2:45pm – 4:00pm

The event is free and can be enjoyed by all ages.  The Mount Agamenticus Steering Committee and Friends of Mount A. welcome all to join them for the day.  For more information please visit www.agamenticus.org.

While similar to tennis, Pickleball is played on a much smaller court, and uses a “wiffle ball” and paddles resembling large ping-pong paddles. It can be played by two or four players, but is more often played by four.  It is fun and fast, but does not take as much running as is required of tennis. It can be played by all ages, including young children and seniors.  Relatively easy on the knees and other body parts, it is especially popular with former tennis players, who because of age or injury, have had to give up tennis. It is easy to learn for new players.

If you are interested, you can watch it at the Berwick Academy Tennis courts on Saturday mornings between 9 AM and noon.  Lessons will be offered through the So. Berwick Rec. Department starting June 19th.  Interested parties should sign up at South Berwick Recreation or contact Beth & Ben Bennett at nebteb@peoplepc.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.

This 70-foot replica of the flat-bottomed sailing barges that once carried cargo up and down our tidal rivers now provides a unique stage for education and entertainment in tidewater towns throughout the Piscataqua Maritime Region. The nonprofit Gundalow Company, working with the Old Berwick Historical Society, welcomes you on board for any of the following events highlighting our local history and our waterways. All activities take place at Counting House Park and Quamphegan Landing unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, May 18 – Gundalow Orientation: Behind the Scenes 5:00-6:00 PM
Join us to find out about volunteering on the gundalow this week.

Thursday, May 20 – Celebrate the Salmon Falls River! 5:00-7:00 PM
River displays and demonstrations by local nonprofits, hands-on activities, and tours of the gundalow and the Counting House. Old Berwick Historical Society Annual Meeting 6:30 PM Join us in the Counting House for refreshments, meeting, and concert by “Sounds Like Old Times” (Dave Peloquin and Bob Webb)

Friday, May  21 – Hike Through History all day
Central School students visit the gundalow, the Counting House, and other historic sites. This year’s theme: Water, Transportation, Local Economy, and Ecology. Rain date: May 24

Friday, May  21 -Dunnet Landing Stories 6:00 PM
Pontine Theater presents a series of sketches featuring the beloved characters of Sarah Orne Jewett’s masterpiece, The Country of the Pointed Firs. $10 fee; rain location is in the Counting House

Sunday, May 23 – A Sailor’s Life for Me 11:00-3:00 PM
A fun family day at the Hamilton House, with activities that explore our local maritime heritage. $4 fee for Historic New England members
(children free); $6 nonmembers (children $4). Contact 207.384.2454

Tuesday, May 25 – Yardscaping Workshop 5:30-8:00 PM
Visit the gundalow, tour the Counting House, and hear a Master Gardener’s tips for a healthy landscape. Sponsored by the Towns of South Berwick, Eliot, and Berwick, and the Board of Pesticide Control’s Yardscaping program. No charge.

Ongoing: School Field Trips on the gundalow May 19-26

For information on programs and volunteering:
info@gundalow.org 603.433.9505 education@gundalow.org
www.gundalow.org PO Box 425  Portsmouth, NH 03802-0425

Roger Morin is a watercolor artist, originally from Berwick but now living in South Berwick.  He and his wife live in the “Old Warren Schoolhouse” in the Dunnybrook area of Emery’s Bridge Road.  A few years ago they added on to the schoolhouse for a studio at home and now they are hoping neighbors will stop by for a cup of cider and a look around.

Anyone who has been to Spring Hill for dinner may recognize Roger’s work from the walls of the dining room, where his artwork is displayed year-round.

There will be a range of work available on Saturday – notecards, prints, calendars and reasonably priced originals.  Much of Roger’s work is of the local South Berwick and greater Maine area.  Balancing Rock, Orris Falls and the Hamilton House are all subjects of paintings there will be prints available for purchase.  Roger’s website is www.rlmorin.com

The Community Chorus at South Berwick will present its 35th annual Christmas concert in two performances on December 5 and 6. The 60-voice mixed chorus will sing “ A Christmas Garland” of traditional carols and contemporary choral works on the theme of “Noel, Alleluia”. The concert will usher in the holiday season accompanied by harp, piano, and instrumentalists. The Saturday, Dec. 5 performance will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 22 Fox Run Road in Newington, N.H., at 7:30 p.m.  The Sunday, Dec. 6 concert will be at the Wesley Kennedy Performing Arts Center of Marshwood High School, Route 236 in South Berwick, Me., at 3 p.m.

The Community Chorus at South Berwick has become a fixture among Seacoast music-lovers, drawing its singers and audiences from across the region. The performers range in age from twenties to seniors. While based in South Berwick, it is a regional group with singers from over 15 towns in Seacoast Maine and New Hampshire. Conductor/Director Dr. Harry Moon, who is beginning his tenth season with the group, notes that carol singing has long been part of the Nativity season, with roots in the French caroles, or dance-songs, of the common people rather than the church or court. Several of this year’s concert selections are in this French tradition as well as those of England and Appalachian America, including the familiar We Three Kings and The Holly and the Ivy.

Composers and arrangers represented in the program range from a sixteenth century French court organist to current San Jose University physics professor, Brian Holmes. Punctuating the program are four settings of an Alleluia text by twentieth century composers Randall Thompson, James Poulsen, Fredric Bayco, and Stephen Paulus. The highly popular choral composer, Eric Whitacre, is represented by his haunting Lux Aurumque.

Accompanying the chorus will be Audrey Adams on the piano, Melinda McMahon on the harp, Victoria Myer on the cello, and Jennifer Doiron on the oboe.

Tickets are $10 at the door ($8 for seniors and students) or $8 in advance at South Berwick Pharmacy, 287 Main Street, South Berwick; Gary’s Guitars, 800 Islington Street, Portsmouth; and York Flower Shop, 241 York St., York. Information is available at ccsb-sing.org or 207-384-7059.