Advice To The Players, Sandwich’s own Shakespeare Company, is bringing one of the Bard’s greatest tragedies to life in King Lear, starring the company’s founder Caroline Nesbitt in the title role. Performances will be at the Sandwich Town Hall Theater, March 23, 24, 30, 31 at 7:30 pm and March 25 & 31 at 2 pm. Tickets are available at advicetotheplayers.org or by calling 603-284-7115.
 
When Lear, king of England, decides to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters and retire, while wanting to keep the respect and ceremony attributed to a king, it sets off an unforeseen chain of events that changes the course of an entire country. His two eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, are free with their stroking of Lear’s vanity – but their youngest sister, Cordelia, who loves her father most, will not say what he wants to hear, and for it is packed off to marry the King of France without her rightful share of the kingdom. Lear is then left to the hands of his two daughters who are more interested in power than in the care of their father, and who have little patience for Lear’s arrogance, selfishness, and growing mental instability. Meanwhile, another family in court has their own sibling problems as one brother seeks to destroy another, and all comes to an end with a battle for the future of England itself.

King Lear is directed by Jim Murphy, and presented by an all-star ATTP cast, including Caroline Nesbitt, Vivian Nesbitt, Richard Moses, Versee Damien, Ben Smarzynski, Grace West, Jessie Chapman, Lucy Randall-Tapply, William R. Johnston, Frederick Bickford, Ariel C. Moore, with  Dennis Sullivan, Martha Nichols, Corey Trask, Aislinn Hird, Silas Pierce, and Amelia Nudd-Homeyer as the Ensemble.
 
Advice To The Players is a unique company of theater professionals, enthusiastic community members and energetic teens that has been performing Shakespeare and offering workshops in New Hampshire’s Lakes and Mountains Region since 1999. Our award-winning productions bring William Shakespeare’s richly passionate plays to life and introduce new generations to live theater and to Shakespeare’s brilliantly rendered portraits of humanity.

Words by Sue Rowan, photos by Trish Bushmich

Early winter brought several snowfalls of a light powder that made for excellent snowshoe and ski travel. The woods after a light snowfall are beautiful, and it is always fun to try to identify the foot prints that woodland creatures leave in the fresh snow. Since then heavy rains and extremely cold weather have changed trails to ice with several washouts. We hope we get some more good snow.

A cow moose was spotted near Teacup Lake.

The birds are still flocking to our feeders. We welcome you to come and see them.  As part of our wildlife habitat program there are small clearings in the woods with  standing dead trees for perching or drilling for woodpeckers and nuthatches. They come to the feeders, too, along with goldfinches, juncos, and a few chickadees.

Established in 1955, Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods (CSVW) operates as a not-for-profit nature, bird, and wildlife sanctuary in Center Sandwich, NH. It is a place for children, families, and adults to connect with nature and explore wildlife in their natural habitat across more than 160 acres of woodland trails, meadows and streams, of which CSVW owns 114 acres. CVSW is open to the public year round from dawn to dusk free of charge, and depends on individual donations and grants for financial support. 740 Mt. Israel Rd. Center Sandwich, New Hampshire.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know! 603-284-6428 or 603-848-6807, ChapmanSanctuary@gmail.com

Ole Anderson writes: Hi All, Sandwich Winter Carnival will be Saturday 1/27.  This is always a fun day for folks to break up their cabin fever.  We hope to see you at some or all of the events.

The day will start with a cross-country skiing and waxing clinic at 9:00am on Quimby Field hosted by Inter-Lakes Varsity ski coach, Steve Olafson. If you are interested in Nordic skiing, but don’t have the gear.  Contact Ole Anderson by Wednesday 1/24, and we may have some equipment for you to try on Saturday. There will be an all ages, all abilities cross country ski race at 10:30am starting on Quimby Field.  Prizes and awards for skiers. Costumes are encouraged! 

The chili cook-off will take place in Sandwich Elementary school 12:00-1:30 pm. There are lots of talented chefs in our community, we encourage you to all to bring your best pot of chili. Please bring your chili in a crock pot so it will stay warm throughout the contest, and we ask that you provide a ladle or serving spoon. We will provide everything else.  

We are also asking local artists to bring one art piece to put on display.  We are hoping for a variety of pieces from artists of all ages.  School aged theme is snowless snow man.  Get creative! 

A cardboard sled derby will start at 1:30pm on the hill at the back of Sandwich Elementary School. Prizes for all participants. Bring a sled to enjoy the hill once the sled derby is finished.  

Come up to Remick Park in North Sandwich between 3:30 – 5:00 pm for family ice skating, hot chocolate, and hot dogs. We will have marshmallows for roasting over the fire. This is a family skating time, so please leave your hockey sticks home.

Looking forward to seeing folks at some, or all, of these events. We may add more to the day, so stay keep an eye on the sandwichboard, follow us on Facebook at: Sandwich NH Parks & Recreation, or visit the Parks and Recreation page on the town website: sandwichnh.org. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks, Ole Anderson, Sandwich Parks and Recreation Director(603) 284-6473 sandwichrecreation@gmail.com

Peggy Longley writes: Does your New Year's resolution list include getting more involved in "Community"? Well we have the ticket for you! The Friends of the Library membership is large but the board is small. We have lots of room for you and have these slots to fill: treasurer, secretary and events chair or opportunities for fundraising or help plan, bake, set up/clean up for events. Or is there something else your interests/talents might bring to us? We start the year off with a strong membership drive in January, then launch Books Sandwiched-In on January 22nd. Throughout the year we sponsor engaging presentations, poetry readings, Mother's Day Bake Sale (May), Annual Book Sale (Old Home Week in august), and children's events.

If you enjoy the Samuel H. Wentworth Library, this is a perfect way to give back and ensure that they have additional funds for book acquisitions, programming, and necessary equipment. Let us know if you would like to volunteer on the board of the Friends of the Library and help us go forward in giving to our community in 2018. Call 284-6294 for more information. Thank you!

In Etched in Granite, we came to know Abigail, Silas, Nellie, and the others. Their tales, carefully woven together, bound by their afflictions and the will to survive, do not end here. The stories hidden beneath anonymous graves go well beyond the discovery of the 298, spanning generations, oceans, and even continents. This flame may be that of a single candle, subtle light within infinite darkness, with a promise to burn brightly.

For the Hodgdon sisters — Abigail and Sarah — 1872 is a year of reckoning. Alone and determined, 17-year-old Sarah Hodgdon boards a train, trading farm life in New Hampshire for the textile mills of Fall River. Woefully disillusioned, she finds herself trapped within the confines of a brutal factory and a filthy, crowded tenement.

Her torment wildly escalates when she learns the fate of her family —her sister locked away in the County Farm, and her mother’s remains scattered amongst the charred ruins of their beloved home.

About to drown in a sea of spindles, she meets lamplighter, August Wood, who illuminates the gap between the affluent and the undesirables that dwell in the murky shadows.

Stripped down to her bare instincts, she retreats into a secret world, that if revealed, would shatter all that remains. Everything collides when Bess, the captivating, young woman across town, emerges, navigating the dense world of the local elite, offering a glimpse into an era when women were beginning to take the stage.

Survival, a resilient thread of music, interweaves their compelling stories, uniting them, unveiling grievous misdeeds from the past.
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Now available in softcover and Kindle at https://www.mjpettengill.com/ and on Amazon. In bookstores and libraries in January.

The Sandwich Woman's Club Community Christmas Party will be Sunday, December 17 at 3:30 pm in the Sandwich Town Hall. Santa Claus will be a special guest. He will have a gift bag for all children from birth through grade 3. This includes all children who attend Sandwich Central School and their younger siblings; all children who attend the Sandwich Children's Center (and siblings) and children who live with a Sandwich parent/guardian on the weekend. Grandchildren can be accommodated; but please contact Diane.

If you are new to Sandwich, have a new baby or child in your home, or know of a new little one, please call/text Diane Johnson at 284-7168 to add his/her name to the list. Correct spellings of names and year of birth are most helpful.

Chris and Carolyn Boldt will entertain and lead families in songs of the holiday season, The Night before Christmas will be read and a story or two told. Gifts (some handmade), fresh fruits and cookies will be given out.

This party has been a Sandwich Tradition for more than 80 years. The Sandwich Woman’s Club currently sponsors this party with the help of several organizations and individuals. This is a non-religious gathering with the intention of being sensitive to the beliefs of all and fun for all. Families who wish are encouraged to share the Christmas story and carols with their children at the Live Nativity in front of the Baptist Meetinghouse of the Community Church of Sandwich shortly after the party.

Despite allusion to the classic “Pilgrims’ Progress”, this is a new book, an original, and to some perhaps, a controversial look at the religions of the world.  Marshall Davis is well qualified to share his insights into the world of religions. He is broadly educated in his field and has no apparent axes to grind.  Davis himself is non-judgmental and does not appear to espouse any conventional religious practice. However, pointing out the foibles, inconsistencies and hypocrisies of many religions is fair game. But to do this with understanding, wit and good humor is the secret strength of this book.

This is a variation on a classic picaresque tale, following the course of the “seeker” Pilgrim as he struggles along the path to enlightenment. Along the way he encounters many authoritarian figures who lay claim to an exclusive pathway to enlightenment, the allegorical “celestial city”. Others offer to help Pilgrim in their own way with temptations and confusions. Pilgrim must make sense of all this.

Pilgrim, a true believer and a stout skeptic, sees, if not the hypocrisy, at least simple failings behind much of what he finds. You will recognize many of these people and organizations of faith as Pilgrim dissects their inherent weaknesses.  And yet you may have some sympathy with the motivations behind many of these attempts to explain the inexplicable. The author, masquerading as Pilgrim, displays an in-depth perception that is both powerful and at the same time amusing.  I found myself chuckling aloud as Pilgrim, seemingly in his naiveté, strips the pompous would-be theocrats of their self-indulgent powers.

But this is not all light-hearted stuff, for there are many who are the victims of these organizations and suffer greatly. Pilgrim suffers, too, but persists in his journey, knowing that what he seeks, the celestial city, is still beyond his reach. Persistence is the message, along with a healthy dose of incredulity.  Common sense directs his steps while the tendency to wander pulls lesser seekers away from the true path and into error, complacency and sometimes great danger.

The journey continues on a winding and obscure pathway both familiar and strange at the same time.  There is a darkness that warns of danger, and bright seductions to lure the unwary. Between seduction and fear, Pilgrim is buffeted and occasionally loses his way, not an uncommon event for those seeking enlightenment, or even for those simply trying to live in a hostile world where truth can be elusive and deceits often used to ensnare the gullible.

The finale, which is not perceived until Pilgrim arrives, is brilliant and unanticipated. Like a Zen koan, it inspires a flash of enlightenment, not only for Pilgrim but also you, the reader, a gift from the author, Marshall Davis.

The Seeker's Journey is available in both kindle and paperback.

Marshall Davis, an ordained minister, first came to live in Sandwich in 1982. He served as pastor of the Community Church of Sandwich for eighteen years.

By Alyssa Floyd

When the leaves start to change color and the winds begin to blow, autumn is just over the horizon. Filled with warm sweaters, pumpkins, and vivid forest walks, fall brings feelings of homely comfort. Not only that, but fall brings one of the most exciting events of the year to the town of Sandwich: The Sandwich Fair.

The Sandwich Fair takes place every year in October on Columbus day weekend, and is one of the town’s most tourist drawing events. From riding rides on the midway to viewing the gorgeous quilts in exhibition halls, there is a variety of activities to do and participate in.

Saturday, October 7th, is Children’s Day at the fair. There are antique auto parades, fan favorite children’s tractor pull, and a variety of other youth suited activities sure to bring a smile upon any child’s face.

Sunday, October 8th, is Family Day. Many animal shows and family oriented performances are scheduled for this day, not to mention Woodsmen’s Field Day starts at 9 a.m. Sunday is also the day of the famous Grand Street Parade throughout the fairgrounds and center of town, filled with all kinds of floats and bands to suit people of all ages.

The last day of the fair, Monday, October 9th, is Seniors, 4-H & Military Day. 4-H shows, from horses to dog demonstrations, are taking place all throughout the day and the pickup truck pull is taking place in the tractor pull area.

The midway and exhibition halls are open on all three days, so make sure to check them out! Children and adults alike both enjoy the livestock events that take place throughout the weekend, which happens to be the last fair of the season in New Hampshire.

The Sandwich Fair has been a mainstay in the town for over a century, adding modern twists while still maintaining its rustic charm. Whether it be a fun day for the family, a time to indulge in the delicious choices of foods available, or simply a moment to reflect on the nostalgic quality of the past, the Sandwich Fair is an event catered towards people of all ages and will surely not disappoint.

Julie Dolan writes: I am pleased to announce the sale of my veterinary practice, Sandwich Animal Hospital, (and our home and farm) to Drs. Adrien and Casey Cloutier. Adrien is originally from Stark, NH and Casey is from CT. They both completed their veterinary degrees at Tufts Vet. School, graduating in 2014. In short order they were married and moved to ND where they worked at a busy 4 doctor practice for cattle, horses and cats & dogs. They welcomed daughter, Edith, 2 years ago and are expecting another baby in November.  

For the time being, Dr. Adrien will be working shifts at the Meredith Veterinary ER and Dr. Casey will be taking over the helm at SAH (now Sandwich Animal Hospital, LLC). I (and Marsha and Amelia) plan to continue working for the foreseeable future. I hope to be working a few less hours and being able to let go of the many tasks that come with running a small business. 

We will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, September 9th from 1- 4 p.m. at the Animal Hospital.  The clinic will be open for tours and there will be multiple raffle prizes available for both you and your pets. Elevens Kinetic Provisions will provide an assortment of delicious appetizers and snacks.  The Crafty Cakery will provide cookies for people and pets alike.  Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome to attend, as well as well-behaved children (no leash necessaryJ). Check the new Facebook page at Sandwich Animal Hospital, and there will be a website coming soon. If you have any questions, please call us at 284-6206.

It's hard to believe that 27 years have passed since I started this practice and I am very happy that the business will continue growing and serving the community and their 4-legged family members.

This post is by Maya Weil-Cooley, a Discover Sandwich intern reporter.

Tappan Chairs is a Sandwich business producing handmade chairs in operation here since the mid-1800s. The current owner, Adam Nudd-Homeyer, has brought Tappan Chairs back as a prosperous business. Although Adam says he’s been blessed with many strokes of luck along his journey, a huge amount of work has gone into creating a business that's more than a business.

From learning how to use chair-making equipment from the 1850s, to meeting the owners of his retail partner Chilton Furniture and getting featured in Popular Mechanics; together these things have helped maintain this local tradition as a thriving operation.

Tappan Chairs is an unusual business for several reasons. Not only has it continued in Sandwich for seven generations, but the style and way the chairs are made hasn’t changed much either. From one chair maker to the next, tools, patterns, and methods have been passed down, and members of the greater community have helped keep things going as well. At one point in the 1960's, the business was saved at an estate auction, and its equipment and patterns stored in a barn. There it stayed for nearly twenty years until it was discovered and rejuvenated by Adam's predecessor, Gunnar Berg. It was by using the methods that Mr. Berg rediscovered that Adam himself learned to build chairs. “That's the thing that makes these chairs so special—their story,”says Nudd-Homeyer.

Adam Nudd-Homeyer’s own story has taken many turns to bring him to where he is today. As a German major at UNH he began taking trade classes. Through this he began teaching shop, a generalization of practical skills such as basic carpentry and engineering, at Newport High School. When he moved to Gilford, and began teaching shop there, he taught himself woodworking to be able to use the woodworking machinery that had fallen out of use at Gilford High School.

Moving to Sandwich, and becoming the director of the Sandwich Historical Society gave him access to the history of the business. Besides his skills in teaching, woodworking, German, and local history, Adam is a skilled welder, and resurrected the statue of Niobe to its original home on the Great Wall of Sandwich. He is truly a Sandwich Renaissance man.

Nudd-Homeyer talked about how, although he’s very happy with the business, he would love to help continue the legacy that has been created by turning it into something more than just a sell-a-chair business model, like a nonprofit or an artist residency program.

With its historical background and current vision, Tappan Chairs is one of Sandwich's many interesting and unconventional businesses.