ISSUE NO. 336 / January 18, 2023

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

“Time to Tap At Harding Hill Farm"

Historical notes on this Winter’s day... Did you know, January 18th is National Thesaurus Day… we are happy, merry, delighted and overjoyed to share it with you and writers everywhere!  

This is also "National Winnie-the-Pooh Day” and author A. A. Milne’s birthday.

The Adventures of Christopher Robin, Pooh-Bear, and friends has been translated into nearly every language and there are thousands of cuddly Pooh Bears, some now a bit bedraggled, who’ve been best friend to scores of children. Their habitat in the 100 Acre Wood reminds us how privileged we are to actually live in our little slice of heaven in the New Hampshire Wood!

To quote Winnie-the-Pooh… 

“If you live to be 100, I want to live to be 100

minus one day so I never have to live without you. ”

Fact: By this day in January, best intentions and most New Year’s resolutions have long been forgotten. 

and… Movie, anyone?… Tomorrow is "National Popcorn Day”!  What better way to celebrate?

Peabody’s Coal Train (PCT) is a unique, local NH acoustic Americana 6-piece band featuring strings and shared vocal harmonies. Musicians are Jason Teaster on acoustic guitar, Dave Anderson on harmonica, Steve Cybulski on banjo, Dave Carroll on mandolin, Marc Fraley on bass, and Scott Hayes on guitar and dobro. Hailing from the Contoocook River Valley of central NH, they play originals and covers that tell stories celebrating the triumphs and tragedies of the human condition. They particularly appreciate opportunities to interact with a listening audience in special venues with neighbors and new friends.

“A country folk band with an Americana twang.”

peabodyscoaltrain.org

Donna Byrne is performing at JOSA JAZZ on January 22, 2023

Donna Byrne is a jazz singer at the top of her game, a true entertainer whose music is fiery or tender by turns. Her powerful voice, energetic persona, and ability to convey a sense of her life experience gives her music a spiritual feel that captivates jazz fans and leading artists alike. Tickets

On this day in 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on the Billboard Top 100 list with “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”.

Director Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency) travels back to the 1950s to tell the story of Mamie Till-Mobley, the Chicago woman whose son, Emmett Till, was lynched while visiting cousins in Mississippi and whose body became an indelible image of the horrors of American racism. Employing a direct, unflinching, yet sensitive gaze, Chukwu has created the definitive drama of this woman's grief and resilience, and in an astonishing performance, Danielle Deadwyler captures both a mother's indescribable heartbreak and her inspiring ascension to the role of civil rights activist. Till is a momentous reminder of an ever-present tragedy, featuring painstaking production design, subtly expressive camera framing and composition, and a note-perfect supporting cast, including Sean Patrick Thomas, Jalyn Hall, Tosin Cole, John Douglas Thompson, Frankie Faison and Whoopi Goldberg.

D: Chinonye Chukwu, US, 2022, 2h10m

Fri, 1/20: Discussion follows with Deborah Watts, Emmett Till's cousin and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, moderated by Prof. Vievee Francis.

Sun, 1/22: A recording of Friday's Q&A follows.

Programmed in conjunction with Dartmouth College's Martin Luther King, Jr celebration, with support from the Departments of African and African American Studies, English and Creative Writing; Film and Media Studies, and History; the Ethics Institute; the House Communities; the Shabazz Center for Intellectual Inquiry; the Office of the Provost; the Leslie Center for the Humanities; and the Office of the Associate Dean for International and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Special thanks to Prof. Trica Keaton for leading the collaboration around this event.

"Dancing With the Stars" in Newport … Always a sold out event … get your tickets now!

The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce & The Newport Opera House Association present DANCING WITH THE NEWPORT STARS!

Friday & Saturday, January 27th & 28th, 2023

7:00pm

The Opera House stage sparkles with Newport’s finest dancing contestants, each vying for the winner’s trophy!

A winning couple will be chosen each night so be sure to vote for your favorites!

Tickets are on sale now! New this year – PREMIUM SEATING!

January 19 thru February 5th

The Niceties at Shaker Bridge Theatre

In this “barnburner of a play” (The Washington Post), two extraordinary women square off in a high-stakes academic debate over race, reputation, and who gets the final word on how American history is written. When university professor Janine and her brilliant student Zoe don’t see eye to eye, their routine office hours discussion unexpectedly careens off course – and threatens to derail their careers, lives, and the status quo. Learn More

January 25th thru February 12th

ACCESSIBLE TICKET OPPORTUNITIES: 

*NEW* PAY WHAT YOU CAN PREVIEWS:

Wednesday, January 25th, at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 26th, at 7:30 p.m.

 'Bov Water at Northern Stage

How do you define yourself if you don’t know your family’s history? In this stirring new choreopoem by Celeste Jennings (Citrus), four generations of Black women breathe and bathe in a past that’s both intentionally and accidentally forgotten. Challenging and discovering their own narratives, these strong and inquisitive souls span time and space on a journey that is touching, vital, and intensely human. Learn More

2023 Tapestry Tuesday Series

First, on January 27th Dianalee Velie presents “A Life Between the Lines: A Half-Century of my Poetic Journey”.

Velie reads excerpts from her six books of poetry written at different periods of her life. The most recent book being a poetic journey through Italy with poems about her experiences teaching poetry in Cortona, Cannero Riviera on Lago Maggiore, and in Santa Croce di Camerina, Sicily.

LSPA “ICE-IN” ON LAKE SUNAPEE!

Five people correctly guessed January 11th as the official “Ice-In” date

Thin Ice

Last year "ice in" was declared on January 12th. This year the weather has been inconsistent, with temperature spans from below freezing to close to 50º. Area lakes have had layers of ice forming and dissolving. As we go forward into our cold winter season please note that the thickness of ice as it forms and its reaction to the weather will vary greatly from lake to lake, pond to pond and spot to spot, so you cannot check the thickness in one place and assume it's that thick everywhere. Please be as safe as possible while recreating on our area waterbodies and do not do anything that puts your safety, your neighbor's safety or the safety of our local first responders at risk. 

Click here to read more about critical ice safety information and

here for NH Fish and Game's ice safety protocol.

Recent articles regarding lakes losing their ice cover faster than ever conclude that ice loss can also lead to year-round impacts on lake ecology. Research has shown that "the global decline of lake ice cover in recent decades can only be explained byincreased greenhouse gas emissions since the industrial revolution." Scientists agree that there isn't any magic solution and only with the best practices of limiting greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change can we ultimately preserve lake ice cover.

Local Skating Rinks in Sunapee, Newport & New London are open for skaters of all skills…. just for fun, a hockey game or dreaming of skating on future Olympic ice.

An invitation from the Sunapee Seniors to join them for a special program.

To keep informed on up to date meeting notices, special events, emergency alerts etc. we suggest you log in to the Sunapee Town website:

The town Facebook page is also a good source of information. CLICK HERE

Looking for a fun for all ages indoor play ground ? “Cowabunga” in Manchester may just fit the bill. 

If you are planning to park and carpool or take Dartmouth Coach to Boston… Be aware of the Exit 11 Park ’n Ride lot changes!

Park & Ride Expansion- I 89 Exit 12

I-89 Exit 12 Park & Ride expansion project will add 50 more parking spaces

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) announces that work will begin on Monday, January 23, 2023, on the expansion project ofthe I-89 Exit 12 Park & Ride located in New London, NH.    The work involves adding 50 additional spaces and includes repaving the entire existing parking lot, reconfigured motorcycle parking and ADA safety upgrades.   When work begins, Park & Ride users are advised that 27 spaces along the right side of the parking lot will be temporarily closed for the installation of safety barrier delineating the work site.  Weather permitting, the work will be completed by the end of August 2023.  Press Release

The first skating rink in Sunapee was located at Cooper Square - where Sugar River Bank is today. The majority of responses guessed Sunapee Harbor by the rest rooms.

BTW, Cooper Square was the triangular round-about intersection of Main Street, Lower Main Street, School Street (now Rte 11) and the Chase St bridge (Rte 11 bridge). The town named this public space to honor young Raymond Elhanan Cooper, a Sunapee boy born in 1895 who graduated Colby Academy a few months early so he could join the Army. He was the first from Sunapee to enlist for the war and the first to be killed in the war, Ray died in 1918 in France and was buried at Bethincourt.  When Rte 11 was built through the village in 1955-57, Cooper Square was destroyed by the highway construction. Ray’s monument stone and plaque were moved up to by the Central School Auditorium entrance where it remains today, little known and unobserved. (Sunapee Historical Society)

One last historical note: on January 18, 1733, the first Polar Bear in America was exhibited in Boston. When asked what Polar Bears eat… the handler replied: “drunken Irishmen”.