New Hampshire Tourism is Much More Than a Money Generator
By Mark Okrant
It is well-known that tourism is one of New Hampshire’s most important industries, supporting more than seventy thousand jobs. While one cannot possibly overstate the significant impact that visitor spending has upon our economy and quality of life, the activities that attract people to the Granite State have a role that supersedes the bottom line. While tourism is often framed as an escape from routine responsibilities, many of the attractions and activities that lure people of all ages within our borders provide opportunities for fun and family-friendly outings. A number have proven to be as educational as they are engaging.
Centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin told listeners, “Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” Quality educators know that by sending their students out into the world, their eyes will be opened. This is exactly how education through tourism works. Whether the topic is geography, history, the environment, culture, or politics, there is no substitute for experiencing the world in person. The electronic and printed media, as well as the internet, have been, at times, complicit in sharing misinformation. It has become all too easy to sit in the comfort of our living rooms and develop biases against other countries, cultures, religions, politics, or ethnicities. What better way to counter this than through travel? The best of this state’s educational destinations is in the form of hands-on science museums, living-history sites, historic walking tours, and wildlife encounters. The secret lies in providing new knowledge in the guise of offering a “cool” experi-
ence. There is a substantial list of these pleasurable but informative attractions. Due to space constraints, we are only able to focus on some of these.
If science and the natural environment are of principal interest in your household, then the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (SLNSC), as well as the Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary, provide outstanding educational opportunities. Situated on Route 113 in Holderness, the mission of the SLNSC is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Through spectacular live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, guided Squam Lake Cruises, an informal public garden, and Blue Heron School (a nature-based Montessori early learning center), the Science Center has educated and enlightened visitors about the importance of our natural world since 1966. The wild animals at Squam
285 Daniel Webster Hwy, Meredith 603-677-7007 www.MeredithLanding.com
Lakes Natural Science Center are ambassadors of their species, here for the purpose of educating visitors about New Hampshire’s natural world. Observing these animals up-close, together with experiencing other hands-on exhibits, offers visitors the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the state’s native wildlife and an appreciation of the natural world.
The Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary (LC&MWS) is located at 183 Lee’s Mill Road, in Moultonborough. The LC&MWS features loon displays, mounts, interactive exhibits, and award-winning videos on loons.
The non-profit Loon’s Feather Gift Shop sells “all things loon and more!”
The 200-acre Markus Wildlife Sanctuary on the shores of Lake Winnipe-
saukee has two miles of walking trails that overlook a nesting pair of loons. No admission is charged by the organization whose mission is to preserve this outstanding element of the New Hampshire ecosystem.
Situated on 89 Depot Road in Greenland, the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR) is a state-run facility focused on research, education, and public access to the Great Bay estuary. The Discovery Center provides hands-on experiences like hiking, bird and wildlife watching, and boating—offered in partnership with NOAA.
Some would describe Flume Gorge as the centerpiece of Franconia Notch. Situated off Daniel Webster Highway in Lincoln, visitors are immediately impressed by the gorge’s towering 70 to 90 feet tall, moss-covered walls. Even on the hottest days, the Flume offers a cool, canyon-like experience. Other characteristics that visitors can observe or, if preferred, study from a boardwalk are waterfalls and pools of water. There are huge boulders and other rock formations to see along the two-mile trail.
The New Hampshire Audubon Center, situated at 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, is one of three nature centers within the state. It provides programs to children, families, and adults at the centers and schools. Opportunities to view wildlife—plants, mammals, and • Tourism continued on page 4
MOULTONBOROUGH: Winnipesaukee Boat Facility! Rack-O-Minium at Harilla Landing Yacht Club. Enjoy valet service and winter storage right on Lake Winnipesaukee. Unit will accommodate a vessel up to 20'6"L, 8'W, 72"H, and up to 4500 lbs. Start enjoying Summer! MLS #5084947 $55,000
Smiley Publishing Group, LLC
dba Panoramic Publishing Group/The Laker
LACONIA: New Listing with Lake Access! Lovely 4BR/3BTH Colonial with deeded beach rights to Wildwood Beach on Winnisquam plus tennis courts, kayak racks, bath house, and a sandy beach. Private cul-de-sac location in this friendly neighborhood. MLS #5090600 $655,000 P.O. Box 119, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896 603-569-5257 in NH 1-800-339-5257 FAX 603-569-5258 pressreleases@thelaker.com • lkr@thelaker.com • www.thelaker.com
Alyson Short
CIRCULATION
Kathy Larson
Nate Nemitz
Drew Young
Build Your Own Floating Wetland
Join Squam Lakes Association from 4 to 6 pm on Thursday, June 25 (534 US Route 3 in Holderness) to build your own floating wetland.
Floating wetlands are platforms containing native plants that float on the water’s surface. Their plants’ roots absorb excess nutrients, capture suspended solids, and provide habitat for beneficial microorganisms that help break down pollutants. These systems can improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen shoreline resilience.
Join Pollyanna for a handson workshop and learn how floating wetlands can improve water quality and support healthy aquatic ecosystems. Shorefront property owners are encouraged to participate, as each participant will take home a 4x3-foot floating wetland to install at their dock for the summer.
Participation Fee: $50 per person. This workshop is part of the Squam Lakes Watershed Management Plan. Space is limited. Learn more and register at squamlakes.org.
• Tourism continued from page 3
birds—are enhanced by qualified staff.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is situated at 2 Institute Drive in Concord. This is so much more than a science museum. It features interactive exhibits about astronomy, aviation, and Earth and space science. There is a planetarium, an observatory, and a science playground. Visitors can’t miss the Mercury-Redstone rocket replica, which sits prominently near the entrance.
For the ultimate in a fun yet educational experience for children from infancy to middle school, there is the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire on 6 Washington Street in Dover. There are two floors of hands-on fun covering items that range from dinosaurs to music, aeronautics, and more. Their mission is to engage families in hands-on discovery while inspiring creativity.
VISIT US ONLINE!
For those whose preference lies in experiencing history and important events, there are numerous choices.
The Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum at 18 Highlawn Road in Warner offers a deep dive into Native American art and history. The property offers an extensive collection of artifacts. A trail provides access to indigenous plants
with explanations of who and how they were used.
One of this writer’s favorite attractions is the Wright Museum of World War II, situated at 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Visitors of all ages can not help but be entertained and inspired by this jewel. Two permanent collections address the Military Theater and a Home Front Gallery during the war. Opportunities to view weapons of war will appear to some visitors, while others will be enthralled by a replica kitchen as well as compelling displays of toys, posters, furnishings, and everyday appliances.
This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Readers should consider visiting the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth, Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, Mount Washington Observatory on the summit of that mountain, the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough, Canterbury Shaker Village, the New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner, and the Millyard Museum in Manchester. In all these places, visitors’ curiosity will be aroused, making their occasions feel more like an experience and less like a lesson—thus, proving that tourism isn’t a break from education—it is one of the most effective ways of learning about our world.
.com
Golf Courses and Driving Ranges Throughout the Lakes Region
By Mike Moore
With the sunny, warmer days upon us, the lush, green landscape spanning as far as the eye can see is a terrific upside to enduring the gloom and rain of the early spring in the Lakes Region. Golf courses in the area are one of the biggest beneficiaries of this. Whether up visiting for summer vacation and looking to get in a round or two, or seeking out that perfect country club to become a life-long member, golf enthusiasts of any skill level in New Hampshire can expect some of the best weather, scenic views, and a wide variety of highly rated, beautiful courses. From the challenging PGA graded greens and majestic tree-lined fairways, to the breathtaking views of
the local lakes and mountains, there is as much fun and enjoyment to be had out of the water during the summers
in New Hampshire as there is on the lakes.
While several of the private golf courses throughout the Lakes Region continually receive rave reviews both regionally and nationally, many of the courses open to the public also have stellar reputations in their own right. Kingswood Golf Club, a highly rated course in Wolfeboro, is open to the public and also offers a variety of different membership types, including a college student membership at a discounted rate. The course has a driving range, putting greens, and includes a private practice hole for members only. There is a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner op-
tions as well. Kingswood does have a more formal dress code, with collared shirts and non-denim pants or shorts required. Many of the courses in the region adhere to this more old-fashioned golfing guideline out of tradition. Their rates for membership and for single rounds are competitive with courses in neighboring towns, and for those looking to squeeze in 9 holes after work, they offer discounted green fees for start times after 3 pm.
Up in the North Conway area, the Mount Washington Resort and Golf Course in Bretton Woods was recently recognized as the number one public course in New Hampshire for its perfect view of the Presidential Mountain range and tricky course terrain. Additionally, the resort offers a separate 9-hole course called Mount Pleasant, which gives duffers the chance to test their skills with a challenging course layout that requires a creative and strategic approach to master. The course at Bretton Woods isn’t just for the vacationers, though. With a club membership, one can expect priority for tee times, exclusive resort perks, and access to league competitions. Their staff is available for private instruction on
• Golf
continued on page 7
Province Lake Golf Course
the course, on the practice greens, or on the range. Resort guests are given discounted rates, and for those who are just looking to play, the cost for 18 holes is comparable to similar premier courses throughout New England. Along the north side of the lake in the Center Harbor and Moultonborough area are two great golf options, Waukewan Golf Club and Birch Hill Country Club. Waukewan has been a mainstay in the Center Harbor area for almost a century. The course was built on old farmland and doubles as a wedding and special event venue. Just down the road in Moultonborough, Birch Hill is starting its second season in operation, but the course has been a popular destination under previous ownership as the Ridgewood Country Club for over 20 years. Just east of Lake Winnipesaukee is Indian Mound Golf Course, situated in a dense, woodsy section of nearby Ossipee Lake. Indian Mound welcomes the public to come visit for a round or to join as a member at their stunning 18-hole course, complete with a pro shop, restaurant, and picturesque, treelined fairways. Along the Maine border is another great option, Province Lake Golf Course. This resort is located in Parsonsfield, offers dining and lodging in addition to golf, and has become a premier vacation destination due to its
reputation as a warm and welcoming community that has entertainment options to keep the whole family happy. On the southern and western side of the lake, there are a multitude of beautiful courses open to the public throughout the summer. In Gilford, there is Pheasant Ridge Country Club, which is best known for the demanding terrain and fast, tricky greens. Gilford also has a less formal golf course option for the folks who want to swing the sticks without having to keep their shirts tucked. At Bolduc Park, in addition to the par three nine-hole course, there is a separate disc golf course, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during the winter months.
Golfers in Tilton have enjoyed teeing it up at the Lochmere Country Club for over 30 years at the course known for being the “country club for blue-collar people”. Lakeview Golf Club in Belmont is a great option for those folks wanting to get a quick round in at the 9-hole, par 35 course. Another smaller course with the same spectacular views and immaculate course design is the Mystic Meadows in Laconia. This golfing spot has a 9-hole course, as well as dining and shopping options. With so much to do during the summer in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, residents and visitors might not have the time to dedicate an entire day to the golf course. Fortunately, each of the public courses around the area
offers duffers a chance to hit a quick bucket at their driving ranges. Along Route 16 in Ossipee is a great standalone driving range at Bucket of Balls and Axe One. In the few years since new ownership took over, this range has been completely remodeled and is quickly becoming an entertainment destination with the addition of their axe-throwing area, their state-of-theart virtual golfing bay, along with a variety of food and spirit options. When the rains get in the way of your plans to spend the day at the links, or you’re a year-round resident wanting to keep your swing sharp throughout the colder weather months, there are several virtual golf options throughout the Lakes Region. TK’s Cigar Bar and Golf Sim in Ossipee, Studio 18 Golf
in Wolfeboro, White Mountain Indoor Golf up in Intervale, The Tee Box in Belmont, and Ready Golf Teaching in Laconia are some of the indoor golf options available.
Legendary sports writer John Feinstein wrote a golf book called “A Good Walk Spoiled” in reference to the never-to-be-perfected sport. There are few golf courses in the country with more beautiful views or immaculate design to try and keep that good walk unspoiled than here in New England. With a variety of affordable options for all skill levels, golf has been and continues to be one of the more popular entertainment options in the Lakes Region.
Volunteers Needed for 2026 New Hampshire Butterfly Counts This July
The New Hampshire Butterfly Monitoring Network (NHBMN) is inviting volunteers across New Hampshire to participate in its annual butterfly counts taking place throughout July. These fun, community-based events help community members to better understand butterfly populations and support conservation efforts for both common and declining species.
Butterflies serve as important biodiversity indicators for ecosystem health and provide food for many organisms, such as migrating birds. There are more than 100 species of butterflies in the Granite State, but data on their presence and distribution is limited. With butterflies using forests, fields, wetlands, and backyards all over the state, volunteer observations are critical to providing a landscape view of these species.
Throughout July, volunteers, naturalists, families, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts will participate in organized butterfly counts across New Hampshire. No prior experience is re-
quired to participate—just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn.
“These counts are a wonderful opportunity for people to spend time outdoors, connect with nature, and contribute meaningful data that supports butterfly conservation,” said Heidi Holman, who leads pollinator projects at the NH Fish and Game Department.
“Every observation helps improve our understanding of long-term butterfly
trends in New Hampshire.”
nators organize each event and rely on volunteers to help make the counts successful.
The 2026 New Hampshire Butterfly Count schedule includes:
Squam Lakes—July 8
Baker Ponds —July 11
Great Bay—July 15
Errol—July 16
Lake Sunapee—July 16
Conway Area—July 18
SuperSanctuary (Monadnock Region)—July 18
Capital Area—July 25
Volunteers of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. Whether you are an experienced naturalist or simply interested in learning more about New Hampshire’s butterflies, there is a role for everyone. For more information and to register for a count in your area, visit nhbutterflies.org.
The NH Butterfly Monitoring Network promotes volunteer participation in both formal surveys and opportunistic butterfly observations. Data collected through the program contributes to statewide and regional conservation initiatives and helps scientists track changes in butterfly populations over time. These annual participatory science events are conducted at approximately 450 locations throughout North America, including eight count-circles in New Hampshire. Each count takes place within a 15-mile diameter circle registered with the North American Butterfly Association. Local coordi-
The NH Butterfly Monitoring Network is led by the NH Fish and Game Department and UNH Cooperative Extension with collaboration from partners statewide, including NH Audubon, Tin Mountain Conservation Center, the Harris Center for Conservation Education, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust.
on charming at Residence ,
Experience lakeside living at its finest at Langley Cove, a new residential community on Weirs Boulevard in Laconia, New Hampshire. Choose from charming single-family homes at The Cottages at Langley Cove, stylish apartments at The Residence at Langley Cove, or spacious townhomes at The Estates at Langley Cove. Here, you’ll discover a lifestyle centered around comfort, luxury, and community. Enjoy resort-style amenities and a prime location just minutes from Weirs Beach and downtown Laconia.
Property Amenities
Central Air Conditioning
In-Unit Washer/Dryer
Stainless Steel Appliances
Designer Flooring & Finishes
Electronic Thermostat
Fireplace *Select homes
Patio/Balcony *Select homes
resort homes -style amenities prime
Garage *Select homes
Fitness Center
Theatre Room
Community Room
Game Room
Podcast Room
Pickleball Court
BBQ & Picnic Area
Fire Pit
Animal Spa
Dog Parks & MORE!
Yesteryear
Revolutionary Life: Life, Loyalty, and Liberty in Colonial New Hampshire
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
Imagine a world where the average life expectancy was between 35 to 38 years of age. Further, imagine living in a world where most men did not succeed in reaching 5 feet 4 inches in height.
In the mid to late 1700s, if you lived in rural New Hampshire, you were isolated and may have gone weeks without seeing anyone outside your immediate family. You would wear the same clothes for days, and grooming could mean a wash in an ice-cold stream. You were aware you might be encroaching on the lands of local Native Americans, which could be dangerous, and you kept your musket at hand.
News was slow in reaching you, but you heard you might need to choose between two rival groups – Loyalists (or Tories) and rebels set on self-governing. Your choice could set the path
for your future, and you might be called upon to go to war at any time.
If you resided in a large town, such as Portsmouth, your life was quite different. You would be aware that there was a definite class division simply from living day to day. The wealthy in the community lived in large houses, wore elegant clothing, and traveled in coaches vs. on horseback. They had parties, drank good wine and spirits, and often were involved in local government. You might be a servant of a wealthy family or do manual work to make a living. That work could be on the docks where ships came in, dropping off passengers and goods. Women worked as seamstresses, nannies, and housekeepers to make money.
All over cities and in remote areas in America, soldiers in red coats were stationed, and you had to be careful what you said politically, or you could find
yourself in trouble. Yet meetings were taking place secretly to discuss revolting against British rule. You knew attending such meetings was highly risky; your next-door neighbor might be loyal to the crown and turn you in, sending you to jail or worse.
Above all else, you had to make a choice about how you wanted to live, whether to remain subjects of England or to choose freedom from English rule. It was a conflicting time in what would become the Revolutionary War.
Just a few years later, all up and down the East Coast, war raged. Neighbors had taken sides, either fighting for an end to being ruled and taxed by England, a place far away that you probably had never visited, or remaining English citizens.
Harbor, preparing to take gunpowder and arms from Fort William & Mary. A large group of around 400 New Hampshire men (with a number of them from Lakes Region towns) rushed to Portsmouth, prepared to fight. Luckily, the rebel element reached the fort before the Red Coats and, upon arrival, removed weapons and gunpowder. If you lived on or near the Piscataqua River, you could have seen a gundalow loaded with weapons as it headed to other areas to be hidden from the Red Coats.
Things were heating up, and you had to be ready to answer a call to arms; it came not long after, and New Hampshire men were off to fight in Boston’s Battle of Bunker Hill.
According to information on the Portsmouth Historical Society’s website, www. portsmouthhistory.org, New Hampshire was the first colony to have its own constitution, signed on January 5, 1776. It referenced “our natural and constitutional rights and privileges” that were being (in their minds) taken away. However, “rights and privileges” did not apply to everyone, and you likely knew it.
New Hampshire was not directly involved in the Revolutionary War, and there were no battles that took place there. But plenty of men around the state volunteered to fight with the rebels during the war years.
It was big news when, in December of 1774, rebels learned there were British troops heading to Portsmouth
In the Lakes Region, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, citizens were involved in the Revolutionary War. No actual battles were fought in the remote village, but the war impacted families there. Not everyone in New England wanted to break free from the crown, and perhaps there were loyalists even in remote communities like Gilmanton. They might try to appear neutral, while others signed a loyalty oath called the Association Test. The document required all white men over age 21 to declare support for the Revolution and pledge to take up arms against the British. It was a powerful pledge and told the world where each citizen stood on the issues.
At this time, Colonel Antipas Gilman • Yesteryear continued on page 11
of Gilmanton was sent to a deliberative convention in Exeter, New Hampshire. The town’s rebels must have been proud to send a person from their community. This was the same time period when Gilmanton’s Ebenezer Eastman and a group of men volunteered to fight at Bunker Hill.
A folk tale to support the courage of rebels and their families said Eastman’s wife, Mary, learned he had been killed during the battle. This was long before telephones, and there was no way to confirm the story. With only her baby to accompany her, Mary set out on horseback and made for her father’s home in Brentwood. It would have been a difficult and sometimes frightening journey with no roads or anyone to help her. After her arrival in Brentwood, she later learned her husband had survived.
Another Lakes Region town, known as Sanbornton, was incorporated in 1770. Although life was a struggle, people settled even when conditions were difficult in the extreme. If you were to survive life in Sanbornton, you had to learn to do for yourself, from growing crops to hunting. Because life was hard and money short, many of the men in the town enlisted in the Continental Army with the promise of compensation.
Elsewhere in the Lakes Region, Wolfeboro was the summer home of Royal Governor John Wentworth. For many years, the Wentworth family governed the state, and some said, made themselves prosperous by ruling over the towns and hamlets. They were Loyalists, but when John Wentworth became the Royal Governor, he was quite popular among the citizens. He had the resources to build a summer home for himself and his wife and chose the Wolfeboro area. It was a remote, rural place, but this did not seem to bother Wentworth. He acquired about 400 acres near the lake and had a manor house built in 1769 on the northeastern shore. It was known as the earliest summer home in the area.
The summer home was a sprawling estate, and likely many servants took care of the house, with cooking, cleaning, and waiting on the family. Others did yard and farm work, and some worked in the stables. It provided employment, but we cannot know how locals – some of them rebels for the cause – may have felt about working for a man who was loyal to the King.
Once the war broke out, Wentworth deemed it unsafe to stay in New England and with his wife, fled to Canada. They never returned to their summer home. It later burned, and today the site is identified by a New Hampshire Historical Marker.
Another Lakes Region town, Meredith, saw some of its townspeople fight in the Revolutionary War. Led by Ebenezer Smith, the Meredith men played an active part in the war. Smith was the town’s delegate to the pro-revolution, colony-wide convention held at Exeter in 1775. Later, in 1778, Smith was chosen to represent Meredith at a convention in Concord to establish a plan for governing the new state of New Hampshire.
Many who fought in the Revolutionary War lived and died in the Gilford/ Gilmanton area. Many were wounded in the war and lived with compromised health for years. Some depended upon soldiers’ benefits, but one man, written of by Adair D. Mulligan in “The Gunstock Parish: A History of Gilford, New Hampshire,” refused a soldier’s
pension. Abel Hunt of the Gilford area had the distinction of witnessing General Burgoyne’s surrender, and he probably never forgot that event. He said he could support himself under the form of government he had fought to establish. In other words, he was free to choose his own life and enjoy his hard-fought freedom.
As the years went by after the Revolutionary War, life was in some ways the same but in other ways different. Liberty and freedom could be spoken of openly, and the dreaded Red Coats had been sent back to England.
The Revolutionary War changed much for each and every person in places like the Lakes Region. We remember those who fought for freedom to this day.
Redcoats & Rebels: New Hampshire and the American Revolution
New Hampshire often gets overlooked in the narrative of the American Revolution, overshadowed by its noisy neighbor to the south. Nowadays, few people know about Paul Revere’s first ride, which was to Portsmouth in December 1774 to warn the patriots that the British were coming to reinforce Fort William and Mary, five months before the Redcoats marched on Concord and Lexington. Nor do they know that two-thirds of the troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill were from New Hampshire. Most people are also unaware that New Hampshire’s Provincial Congress adopted the first state constitution in January 1776, making no mention of royal authority and essentially declaring independence from
ad.
Great Britain six months before anyone else. And this is just the beginning of New Hampshire’s revolutionary story. This program is presented as part of the New Hampshire Historical Society’s celebration of America’s 250th.
On Friday, June 26, at 6:30 pm, presenter Mary Adams will cover all this and more.
The program, at the Old Town Hall on Route 140 in Gilmanton Iron Works, begins promptly at 6:30 pm. Social hour and refreshments begin at 6 pm. All are welcome. There is no charge, but donations to support the Society are welcome.
For information about the Society’s Museum and other programs, see the Society’s website at https://gilmantonhistoricalsociety.org
StoryWalkTM Kick Off Reception in Holderness
Stroll along the channel at Curry Place as you read “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” by Kate Messner (Art by Christopher Silas Neal), posted one page at a time along the trail. Follow along to discover the wonder and activity that lie hidden between the stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt!
Children can participate in a craft and enjoy a snack connected to the story during the Kick Off Reception. StoryWalkTM surrounds the Holder-
ness Town Gazebo behind the Post Office at Curry Place. Presented in partnership with Curry Place, Holderness Library, Squam Lakes Association, and Holderness Recreation Department. The trail is open daily from June 26 to September 7, with the Kick Off Celebration occurring on June 26 from 10 to 11:20 am. All ages are welcomed. This event is sponsored by: Meredith Village Savings Bank; there is no charge and no reservations required.
Brewster Academy Invites Visitors to Walk-In Wednesdays This Summer
Brewster Academy is pleased to announce Walk-In Wednesdays, a summer open house series welcoming local residents, Lakes Region visitors, and anyone curious about the school to come experience campus firsthand.
The program runs every Wednesday through August 12.
Guests are invited to arrive at 10:30 am for a warm welcome from Brewster’s admissions staff, with campus tours departing from the Academic Building at 11 am, and wrapping up by noon.
Since 1820, Brewster Academy has shaped curious, driven young people into confident graduates. As one of New England’s premier boarding high schools for grades 9–12 and Postgraduate, the school believes in knowing each student as an individual, balancing challenge with support, and help-
ing them go on to build lives of meaning and purpose.
Whether you are a Wolfeboro neighbor, a family spending the summer on the lake, or a visitor passing through New Hampshire, Walk-In Wednesdays are open to all. Families, locals, and anyone who has ever wondered what goes on behind Brewster’s doors are encouraged to stop by. Advance registration is available online, but walk-ins are always welcome.
Event: Walk-in Wednesdays, When: Every Wednesday, through August 12, Time: Arrive at 10:30 am. Tour 11 am to 12 pm. Where: Brewster Academy, Main Academic Entrance (80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro)
For more information or to sign up, visit brewsteracademy.org/walk-inWednesdays.
NH Music Festival’s ‘An Enchanted Evening’ Set
The New Hampshire Music Festival invites you to experience An Enchanted Evening - a celebration of music, elegance, and community set against the timeless beauty of the Van Horn Estate (31 Manor Drive, Holderness) on Sunday, July 19.
Guests will begin the evening at 5 pm with a cocktail hour and cash bar, offering an opportunity to gather with friends, stroll the estate grounds overlooking Squam Lake, and enjoy the charm of a midsummer evening before dinner.
At 6 pm, attendees will be seat-
ed for an elegant three-course dinner thoughtfully prepared by Van Horn Estate’s Executive Chef Kevin Schmidt to complement the evening’s atmosphere of refinement and celebration. The menu will include both vegetarian and meat options.
The enchantment continues at 7:30 pm with a special performance by nine Festival musicians in varying ensembles from trios to a nonet. Featuring acclaimed musicians of the New Hampshire Music Festival, this intimate concert promises an extraordinary musical experience.
Bring Your Bestie & Enjoy!
Relax, Reset, & Rejuvenate
11 included amenities: salt cave, infrared sauna, frost locker, PEMF lounger, vibroacoustic therapy with add-ons: like deep soaks, massages and reflexology
By Reservation Only
315 Avery Hill Road, Alton 603-453-4186 lavendersenseretreat.com
Please call ahead for event updates. Information and schedules
Through June 29, Friday Painters en Plein Air Guest Artists Show, 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesdy-Monday at ArtWorks CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com
Through Oct. 31, From Sails to Atoms: The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, exhibit about the history and impact of the shipyard, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org
June 22, Discovery Walk with a Naturalist, 10 - 11 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www. newfoundlake.org.
June 22, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-9687194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
June 22, Music Night, Jared Steer performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
JOY Connection Wonder
June 23, Lecture Series: Doug Most – Launching Liberty, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-5691212, www.wrightmuseum.org
June 23, Music Night, Jeff Lines performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 23, On Water Instruction, 9 am – 3 pm, Goodhue Boat Company, program of NH Boat Museum, info/pre-register: 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org.
June 23 & 24, Quilled Greeting Card, 10 am - 2 pm, instructor: Amanda Twaddle, Sandwich Home Industries, 32 Main St., Center Sandwich, pre-register: 603-284-6831, www.sandwichhomeindustries.org
June 24, Hulls and Hops Lecture Series, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, NH Boat Museum, Moultonborough Campus, 130 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough, 603-5694554, www.nhbm.org
June 24, Music Night, Sunshine Street performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 24, Sewing: Snappy Bag, 6 - 9 pm, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
New Hampshire Day
Spring 5/9, Fall 11/1
Member Solstice 6/24
Movie Night 7/22
Nature for Everyone Barn Bash 7/16
Animal Birthday Bash 8/12
Annual Meeting & Summer Social 8/6
Raptor Migration Celebration 9/19
Grandparents Day 10/3
Howl O Ween 10/24
New August BioBlitz events weekly!
Science Lecture Series
Live Animal Trail open daily May 1 - November 1
Guided Squam Lake Cruises
Mid-May - Mid-October
Guided Discoveries Camps
April Break & Summer
June 24, Wildlife Encounters Global Tour (Live Animals), 11 am – noon, Wolfeboro Public Library, 259 South Main St., Wolfeboro, pre-register: 603569-2428.
June 25, Guided Hike, 10 am – noon, Oak Ridge, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 25, Junior Skippers Lake Discovery Day, 1 – 2:30 pm, NH Boat Museum, Moultonborough Campus, 130 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough, 603569-4554, www.nhbm.org
June 25, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
June 25-27, Book Sale, 6/25 & 6/26: 10 am - 4:30; 6/27: 9 am – 1 pm, sorted by category. No admission - donations are welcome. Meredith Public Library, 91 Main St., Meredith. Additional parking on High Street entrance. Wheelchair accessible. www.meredithlibrary.org
June 25-July 4, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Musical, Barnstormers Theatre, 104 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8500, www.barnstormerstheatre.org.
June 26, Greater Meredith Program Street Dance, 6 – 9:30 pm, takes place on Meredith Main St., 603-279-9015, www.greatermeredith.org
June 26, Introduction to Screen Printing, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, instructor: William Mitchell, must pre-register by June 23, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.
June 26, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-9687194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
June 26, Peg Loom Rug Weaving, 11 am – 4 pm, instructor: Juli Hird, Sandwich Home Industries, 32 Main St., Center Sandwich, pre-register: 603-2846831, www.sandwichhomeindustries.org
What’s UP
June 26, Redcoats and Rebels: NH and the American Revolution, 6:30 pm, free program, Old Town Hall, 1800 NH-140, Gilmanton Iron Works, social hour/refreshments at 6 pm, Gilmanton Historical Society, https://gilmantonhistoricalsociety.org
June 26, Stories on the Farm, 10 – 11 am, stories, giggles, farm crafts and snacks, NH Farm Museum, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-6527840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org
June 26, StoryWalkTM Kick Off Reception – Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal, 10 – 11:30 am, all ages welcome, Curry Place, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
June 27, 1776 The Musical in Concert, The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
June 27, Antique & Vintage Fair on the Green, 11 am – 3 pm, Wolfeboro Historical Society, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4997, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org.
June 27, Beekeeping Basics, 10 am – noon, age 12 and up program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www. prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
June 27, Celebration for Historic Renovation and Grand Opening of Hebron Library, 1 pm, ribbon cutting, guided tours of restored spaces, learn history of the buildings and more, Hebron Library, 8 Church Lane, Hebron, 603744-7998.
June 27, Community Arts Festival, 10 am – 4 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 27, Community Reading – Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is your fourth of July?”, noon, Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org.
June 27, Dueling Pianos, 6 – 10 pm, ticketed event, Notch Biergarten by Beans & Greens Farm, 245 Intervale Rd, Gilford, 603-293-2853, www.beansandgreensfarm.com
June 27, Grand Opening of the Whipple House Railroad Station and Toy Museum, 1 - 4 pm, Whipple House Museum, Ashland, www.ashlandnhhistory. org.
June 27, Music Night, with singer Audrey Drake, 5 – 8 pm, refreshments, Kalled Gallery, 33 North Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-3994.
June 27, Lauren Smoken, Barrel Bar & Grille Summer Music Series, 2 – 5 pm, Gunstock, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gunstock, info.: 603-293-4341, www. gunstock.com.
June 27, Movers and Shaker Trail Club, 9:30 am, Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org.
June 27, Run the Mountain Series – Finding Your Legs and Happy Tails Canicross, Gunstock, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, 603-293-4341, www. gunstock.com.
June 27 & 28, Great Balls of Fire, Interlakes Theatre, 1 Laker Lane, Meredith, 603-707-6035, www.interlakestheatre.com. (6/27: 2 & 7 pm; 6/28: 1 & 5 pm) Fundraiser event for Interlakes Theatre
June 28, Repair Cafe, 1 – 4 pm, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-5691500, www.makersmill.org
June 28, Scott Hambridge, 6 pm, Feel the Barn Music, food available at 6 pm, 1118 Page Hill Rd., Chocorua, tickets/info.: 603-323-6169, www.thefarmstand. net.
June 28, Small Group Beekeeping Classes, 11 am – 12:30 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 28, Watercolor Workshop, 1 – 3 pm, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 29, Discovery Walk with a Naturalist, 10 - 11 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www. newfoundlake.org.
June 29, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-9687194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
June 29, Monarch Monitoring Mondays, 9 - 10:30 am, on Mondays, held at Pemi Oxbow Preserve, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
June 29, Music Night, Katie Dobbins performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle, in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
June 29, Story Time and Craft Hour, 11 am – noon, free, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), held near Shannon Pond, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org. (In partnership with Moultonborough Public Library)
June 29, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 – 7 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds. org
June 30, Animal Drawing, 10 am - 4 pm, instructor: Kathryn Field, Sandwich Home Industries, 32 Main St., Center Sandwich, pre-register: 603-284-6831, www.sandwichhomeindustries.org
June 30, Lecture Series: Christine Kuehn – Family of Spies: A World War Story of Nazi Espionage - Betrayal and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org
June 30, On the Water Instruction, 9 am – 3 pm, Goodhue Boat Company, program of NH Boat Museum, info/pre-register: 603-569-4554, www.nhbm. org.
July 1, Digging into Native History in NH, Robert Goodby talk, 7 pm, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, 503 Endicott St., North, Laconia, 603-366-5950, www.lwhs.us.
July 1, Mill After Hours, 5 – 8 pm, Jeremy Brown photo exhibit opening at 5 pm, Jack Ancora outdoor concert, free, Rotary Park (next to Mill), Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org
July 1, Music Night, Charles A Music performing,5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 1, Opening Day at the Clark Museum, free admission, cookies, lemonade, 10 am – 4 pm, Wolfeboro Historical Society 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4997, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org.
July 1-18, Antique Quilt and Clothing Display with a twist, Wolfeboro Historical Society, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4997, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org.
July 2, Bryophytes: Hidden Engineers of Mountain Streams, presented by Heili Lowman, watershed biologist, free, 6 – 7 pm, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-968-7194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
July 2, Echotones, outdoor concert, concessions, free, 19 Mile Beach, Rt. 28, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4539, ext. 125.
July 2, Guided Hike, 10 am – noon, Brook Walk via Brook Trail, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-4765410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 2, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
July 2, Red Daisy Revival, Bristol Summer Concert Series, 6:30 pm, Kelley Park, 41 North Main St., Bristol, free, public welcome, bristolevents@bristolnh.gov
July 2, Tab Benoit: Soul of the Swamp Tour, 7:30 pm, The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
July 2, Ring in the 250th of America, join others at Wolfeboro Town Hall, ring the town’s bell, 4 pm, Wolfeboro Historical Society, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4997, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org.
July 3, 4th of July at LW Packard Ball Field, 4 pm, food trucks, kid’s games/ bouncy house, 4 bands, fireworks at 9:30 pm Info: Ashland NH Independence Day Celebration on Facebook.
July 3, Concerts on Canal, Dried Buffalo, 5 – 9 pm, Canal St., Laconia, all ages welcome, held rain or shine, 603-527-8124.
Ashland Railroad Museum, 69 Depot St., Rt. 132, Ashland, 603-707-2683, www.ashlandnhhistory.org
Back Bay Skippers, Glendon St., Wolfeboro, info./schedule: www.backbayskippers.com, www.nhbm.org.
Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Bingo, doors open at 5 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm, presented by Lion’s Club, held at Moultonborough Function Hall on Tues. evenings, 139 Old Rt. 109, Moultonborough, 603-477-8868.
Breakfast Buffet, 7 - 11 am, Wolfeboro Masonic Lodge, 35 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro. Served the second Sunday of every month, 603-569-4637.
Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, tours, programs, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org
Discover Squam Cruises, guided 90-minute cruises, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org
In the Round, 8:45 am, Sundays, thought-provoking topics related to tolerance, Benz Center, Sandwich, 603-284-7211.
Indoor Pickleball, 5 - 7 pm, Sandwich Elementary School gym, Sandwich, Tues., Thurs. Friday, 603-387-2180, parksandrec@sandwichnh.org
Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year-round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.
Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, 503 Endicott St., North, Laconia, 603-3665950, www.lwhs.us
Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
Loon Center, walking trails, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-4765666, www.loon.org
Makers Mill, variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
Millie B., cruise on Millie B., a replica of a 1928 Hacker-Craft, 45-minute tour, info/tours: NH Boat Museum, Wolfeboro, www.nhbm.org, 603-569-4554.
M/S Mount Washington, day and evening cruises, Weirs Beach, 603-366BOAT, www.cruisenh.com.
Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org
New Hampshire Boat Museum, 130 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough, 603-569-4554. Second location: 399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org.
New Hampshire Farm Museum, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-6527840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org
Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, programs for adults and children, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
Squam Lakes Association, 534 US Rt. 3, Holderness, 603-968-7336, www. squamlakes.org
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, live animal trail & events, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures of life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum. org
Family of Spies – Lecture and Book Signing with Christine Kuehn at the Wright Museum
On Tuesday, June 30, the Wright Museum of Wolfeboro will welcome author Christine Kuehn. This is the sixth program of the Wright Museum’s 2026 Education Series. It began with a letter from a screenwriter, asking about a story. Your family. World War II. Nazi spies. Christine Kuehn was shocked and confused. When she asked her seventy-year-old father, Eberhard, what this could possibly be about, he stalled, deflected, demurred, and then wept. He knew this day would come.
The Kuehns, a prominent Berlin family, saw the rise of the Nazis as a way out of the hard times that had
befallen them. When the daughter of the family, Eberhard’s sister, Ruth, met Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels at a party, the two hit it off, and they had an affair. But Ruth had a secret―she was half Jewish―and Goebbels found out. Rather than having Ruth killed, Goebbels instead sent the entire Kuehn family to Hawaii, to work as spies half a world away.
There, Ruth and her parents established an intricate spy operation from their home, just a few miles down the road from Pearl Harbor, shielding Eberhard from the truth. They passed secrets to the Japanese, leading to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. After Eberhard’s father was arrested and tried for his involvement in planning the assault, Eberhard learned the harsh truth about his family and faced a deci-
sion that would change the path of the Kuehn family forever. Doors open at 6 pm, the program begins at 7 pm on Tuesday, June 30, at the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Admission is $8 for members and $12 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online at https://wrightmuseum.org/lecture-series or by calling 603-5691212.
The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the home front and battlefield. For more information about the 2026 Lecture Series or the museum, visit wrightmuseum.org.
Local Connection to Paul Revere’s Foundry: Historic Bell-Ringing on July 2nd
Did you know? The bell in Wolfeboro’s Town Hall is a historically significant artifact, one of approximately 300 bells in the United States cast by Paul Revere’s Foundry. It links Wolfeboro to one of the most famous American bell foundries of the colonial and early republic periods.
In a commemoration organized by the Wolfeboro Historical Society (WHS), the bell will be rung 25 times on Thursday, July 2, at 4 pm sharp. On this same date, 250 years ago, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain.
The bell’s origins trace back to the early 19th century. When the original Wolfeborough-Tuftonborough Academy opened in 1821, the building fea-
tured a large, pillared structure with a bell tower housing a bell cast by the son of Paul Revere. This bell was later requisitioned by the town’s selectmen when the present town hall was built at 84 S. Main Street.
Additional upcoming WHS events include:
July 1 – Opening Day! Stop by the Clark Museum from 10 am to 4 pm for free admission, cookies, and lemonade.
July 2 – Wolfeboro Town Hall Bell rung 25 times at 4 PM sharp.
July 1-18 – Antique Quilt and Clothing Exhibit -- Ruby Grace-Bacon, textile preservationist, historian, and owner of Ruby’s Rags, will showcase WHS’s special collection of preserved and restored textiles.
July 4 - Town of Wolfeboro’s “We
The People” Parade begins at 10 am on Main St. “Paul Revere,” sponsored by WHS, will lead the way.
To discover more fascinating local
history, research links and photos, visit: www.WolfeboroHistoricalSociety. org. To become a member or volunteer, contact wolfeoborohistoricalsociety@ gmail.com.
Sandy Martin Photo
Gluten-Free at the Pattee Hill Farmstand: A Conversation With Courtley Gomez Terrasi
By Joel Bocko
The joy of Courtley Gomez Terrasi’s front yard mini-bakery found its inspiration in a worried state of mind. Two years ago, her son was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and she had to scramble to find gluten-free nutrients - let alone treats - for him to enjoy, a problem compounded when she discovered her own sensitivity to gluten. A baker who had worked primarily as a cake decorator in Massachusetts before moving to Alexandria, New Hampshire in 2023 (while pregnant with her third child), Terrasi used her professional skills to provide for her family.
“I would bake just about everything at home,” Terrasi recalls of those pre-Celiac days. “I baked all of our bread, all of our baked goods. We didn’t buy any of that stuff. So I wanted to still be able to do that for him.” Her impression of gluten-free food was not very favorable, and she worried about how this would affect her son. “I really wanted to make sure that he was able to have all this stuff that I enjoyed when I was a kid and that all of his friends got to enjoy, and it didn’t taste like cardboard!”
“Prior to the Celiac diagnosis,” Terrasi continues, “I was baking traditional sourdough. I love baking bread
Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Tours
- probably more than the pastry side of things. We’re a family of five and I have three kids: we eat a lot of bread. Gluten-free bread from the store, number one, it’s very expensive, and number two, it’s super-tiny. I’d have to buy three loaves of bread for us to just get through lunchtime so that wasn’t
super-realistic for my family. I really wanted to figure it out, but I really wanted it to taste good.”
Terrasi’s talent for baking gluten-free was developed as she attempted to keep feeding her family the way she had before - including desserts. “The cookies in general came from lots of trial and error,” she says. “I was very picky about what I wanted my cookies to taste like, which was a real learning curve with gluten-free flour. A lot of people think they can just use a 1:1 ratio of the gluten-free flour that you get at the store. But moisture content makes a huge difference, and the gluten-free flour tends to absorb moisture a lot more than regular flour does.”
“Everyone wants a soft, chewy cookie, you know?” Terrasi adds, “That came from lots of trial and error. I don’t even know how many batches of failed cookies my husband ate that winter prior! But I eventually found the perfect ratio of white rice flour to sweet rice flour to give it the right texture. It gives you that chew but it doesn’t spread so much. If it’s not right, it just spreads into a pancake, basically.” In the year following the Celiac diagnosis and kitchen detoxification, Terrasi
• Gluten-Free continued on page 21
• Gluten-Free continued from page 20
mastered this new aspect of her craft. This also unexpectedly pointed toward the fulfillment of a longtime dream.
“I always had the desire to do some sort of at-home bakery,” says Terrasi, “but when we first moved up, my son was very young, and I was about to have my youngest daughter. So it didn’t happen for a while.” Despite her nervousness, Terrasi’s husband encouraged her to “try selling it and see what happens,” saying maybe she’d be surprised. “And lo and behold,” Terrasi marvels, “it just exploded from there! I didn’t realize how many people were either Celiac or needed gluten-free everything in the area, and once people found out, it was like a snowball effect.”
This experimental solution became a source of satisfaction and delight not only for the Terrasi family but for neighbors and visitors to the town (and surrounding towns) that she’d come to call home. Combining an online or-
dering system with a self-serve, honor system stand right next to her house, the Pattee Hill Farmstand provides many convenient options for its customers, not only in goods but services. Terrasi explains, “Our house is right off Route 104 in Alexandria, just over the line from Bristol. It’s super-easy to get to; you don’t have to go down any side roads or anything.”
“I have an order pick-up area at my stand so if somebody were to order something on the website, they let me know what time roughly (and what day) they want to pick it up. I just put it outside. You can pay cash then, or if you decided to pay Venmo ahead of time, I just mark it “paid” and then you’re good to go. Most of the time, we’re actually outside - I talk to a lot of my customers regularly when they pull in.” Many of the customers aren’t even gluten-sensitive themselves. They just love the taste of her baked goods. Such compliments are “a pretty normal occurrence for me, actually, which is something I definitely wasn’t expecting when I first started.”
Meanwhile, Terrasi is expanding beyond standards like her sourdough, Irish soda bread, and - for those sweet tooths - the chock-full chocolate chip “Cookie Monster”. Home-hatched chicken eggs are now available, with quail eggs just a few weeks away, and she plans to add goats for milk and butter in the near future. Herbs and produce may eventually go on sale from her prolific home garden, and she and her husband have discussed the possibility of a storefront location. Pattee Hill Farmstand is already a staple of local markets: “I’m at the Bristol openair market every Saturday, and then I’m at the Campton Farmer’s market every Monday and the Tilton farmer’s market every Tuesday,” Terrasi lists off.
Reflecting on her devoted and ever-growing customer base, as well as the support of local businesses like Stay Rooted in Bristol and Fig Tree in Ashland, Terrasi muses, “We came from southeastern Massachusetts, and there isn’t much of a community aspect down there. Moving up here, especially with the stand - I mean, even before
Boat Rentals
that, but especially with the stand - the community is amazing. Sometimes I’m flabbergasted by how much they’re willing to support local businesses like ours.” In addition to word of mouth from these enthusiasts, Terrasi shares images and updates on her Instagram page (@pattee_hill_farmstand), where the curious can also sign up for her direct-to-email newsletter.
“Honestly, I’m just thankful,” Terrasi concludes, looking back over the tumultuous past three years for herself, her son, her husband, and her two daughters. “This was a dream from very, very long ago and I thought it was gone. And it’s just turning into, honestly, what me and my husband only dreamed we could have. We’re on the cusp of being able to make this an actual full-time income for our family, after a lot of years of struggling to pay the bills. I couldn’t be more thankful to all of my customers, and the community, and everyone who’s helped me along the way.”
Keeping the Hearth Burning: Historic Tuftonboro Landmark Finds New Life
For over two centuries, the building at the heart of Center Tuftonboro has been a silent witness to generations of Granite Staters. Established in 1822, its floorboards have creaked under the boots of 19th-century farmers, its counters have held the daily mail, and its porch has served as the definitive town square where neighbors caught up on local news.
When the historic landmark closed its doors in March of 2025, it left a tangible void in the Lakes Region. For the first time in over 200 years, the community lost its central gathering space. But history has a way of finding its second wind—and sometimes, it comes full circle. In November 2025, just months after the building went dark, the lights quietly turned back on at 150 Middle Road. The iconic building entered a bold new chapter as The Refuge BBQ and Mercantile— not as a museum piece frozen in time, but as a living, breathing community hub. Operating right through the quiet, rugged New Hampshire winter, this modern revival has spent the last sev-
eral months honoring the deep-seated heritage of the space while introducing an authentic, craft-driven culinary and retail experience to the region.
For Travis, the owner and pitmaster behind the venture, taking over the historic landmark isn’t just a business expansion; it’s a return to his roots.
The story of The Refuge actually began inside these very walls back in June of 2023, operating right out of the Tuftonboro General Store’s kitchen. From 2024 through late 2025, The Refuge took to the road, building a fiercely loyal following across the region from their popular food trailer. But when the historic building faced an uncertain future following its closure, Travis knew it was time to step back home to where it all started.
“When you walk into a building that has stood since 1822, you feel a responsibility to honor that timeline,” Travis says. “The original shopkeepers traded in goods that were made to last, crafted by people they often knew by name. Having launched our kitchen here in 2023, we feel deeply connected
to that tradition. We are bringing that exact philosophy back, keeping the spirit of the old crossroads alive for a new generation.”
While the building once again serves as a vital town gathering space, visitors stepping across the historic threshold won’t find the standard convenience store fare of yesteryear. The days of dusty canned soups, generic batteries, and tobacco products are gone. Instead, the space has been completely reimagined as a highly curated heritage market.
Open Friday through Sunday starting at 11 am, the Mercantile side of the operation focuses strictly on quality, intentionality, and clean ingredients. It is a showcase for exceptional wares sourced from local independent craftsmen and American-made companies who still value doing things by hand. Visitors tracking down unique finds will discover a thoughtfully selected array of everyday luxuries and goods. The alignment between an artisanal mercantile and a craft smokehouse is deeper than it looks on the surface. Both represent a firm rejection of modern, mass-produced shortcuts.
Just as the retail shelves reject artificial and chemically laden products, the kitchen operates on a strict, uncompromising “from-scratch” ethos. The Refuge has built its reputation on a relentless commitment to ingredient integrity. There are no industrial seed oils, high-fructose corn syrups, or artificial dyes hidden in the food. Every
sauce, every side, and every bun is made entirely by hand to ensure absolute quality control.
While traditional New England smokehouses often lean heavily on standard BBQ staples, The Refuge brings an elevated, specialized approach to the Tuftonboro pits. Weekend visitors are treated to an evolving menu highlighting meticulously prepared specialty cuts like beef cheek, tri-tip, and picanha, alongside smallbatch smoked delicacies.
“Craft means you care about every single step of the process, whether it’s the clean ingredients in a hand cream or the wood fire under a cut of meat,” Travis notes. “It’s about quality over quantity. The people who built this store over two centuries ago understood that kind of work ethic. We’re just applying it to a modern era.”
Having successfully navigated its first winter back in its original home, the revival of the store represents a vital cultural spark for Tuftonboro. It is living proof that historic preservation doesn’t mean leaving a building empty—it means keeping it useful, vibrant, and filled with community spirit.
The smoke is rising in Center Tuftonboro every Friday through Sunday, and the historic front porch is once again playing host to midday conversations, weekend lunches, and neighborhood updates. The legacy of 1822 didn’t end; it was simply refined by the very folks who started their journey within its walls.
