The Valley Voice by Tom Eastman [09/26/2008]

From Doom and Gloom to Bright Reds and Oranges

So, are you seeing red yet about your potential losses in your retirement account due to the sub-prime lending shenaningans on Wall Street?From the doom and gloom from New York and our nation's capital concerning, well, our nation's financial capital, to the changing reds and oranges of autumn, it's a colorful and more than just a little interesting time here in the foliage and outlet shopping capital of New England.Just imagine a bailout but instead of the government spending $700 billion, they used 700 billion leaves. Now, that would be un-be-LEAF-able, huh? And speaking about red, here's to the Red Sox, who clinched their wildcard this week.There's no question that New Hampshire's foliage means capital at that, so Malfunction Junction and Wall Street politics aside, here's to hoping that Friday and Saturday's Nor-easter rain doesn't knock too many of the leaves off the trees before the real start to the leaf peeping season.The leaves are just beginning to change down here in the valleys, just in time for the start of Maine's Fall Blue Ribbon Classic, the 158th Fryeburg Fair, which returns Sunday, Sept. 28, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 5.The big new attraction is likely to be the replica of the Kearsarge North Fire Tower at the newly renamed (and newly refocused) Natural Resource Center, formerly the Forestry Resource Center.The Natural Resource Center this year will feature educational exhibits on solar energy, wind power, wood pellets and geothermal in addition to its traditional offerings.The new replica of the Kearsarge North tower has a fine view of the real thing fair president Roy Andrews told us on a tour of the fairgrounds this week that fair crews would be lowering a cable that marred the view to allow those in the tower to get an unobstructed view of the one on Kearsarge North, still known to some traditionalists by its North American native name of as Pequawket.The other big hit will be the vintage 1874 Concord Coach on display at Margaret and Sut Marshall's wagon and carriage expo. And Saturday the 4th's Grand Livestock Parade will celebrate a 100th anniversary.For further information about the fair, call (207) 935-3268 and see you down by the Princess' fries and at the Lovell Lions' Club's lobsta chowda! FOURTH ANNUAL GREAT PUMPKIN FAIR-WELL PARTY: We joined about 100 fellow pumpkin enthusiasts at Sally and Steve Swenson's on Kearsarge Road as the fog lifted Thursday morning, Sept. 25. The occasion was the fourth annual Pumpkin Fest, and it lived up to past pumpkin pulchritude expectations.The highlight of the day was the cutting of the vine of the Swensons' great North Atlantic orb, Daisy, who was then loaded onto a truck for the ride and weigh-in at the Fryeburg Fair. Winning the raffle prize drawing for the honor of cutting the vine was Jim Webb of the Great Lakes (as opposed to Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia), who had never been to the fest before.There was also an Amazing Grace salute by Sally Swenson on violin bow and saw and Phil Ostroski on mandolin to Howard Dill, the late Canadian founder of the Great North Atlantic Pumpkin species. He passed away this year, and the Swensons only felt it was right to honor the man who has given us all such joy.It's been a tough year for growers of the big orbs at that, Steve Swenson explained at the outset of the pumpkin patch ceremony. What with all the rain we had in the early part of the summer, it was a tough season. But you know, just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a neighborhood to grow a big giant pumpkin, quipped the lederhosen-and-feather-capped Dr. Swenson, who is a retired school psychologist and avid skier and bicyclist.This year's program featured a pumpkin inspection/weight guess (we'll find out who won once Daisy, the Swensons' pumpkin, is weighed in at the fair); music by the Pumpkin Philaharmonic playing Oh, You Beautiful Doll), the Pumpkinettes ladies barbershop group, the world premiere performance of the Pumpkin Heads (an all-men's group which sang If You Knew Daisy Like We Know Daisy), and a performance of the official pumpkin song, Oh Pumpkin Vine, sung to the tune of Oh Christmas Tree by the Pumpkin All-Star Pluckers (Phil Ostroski, Elizabeth Irwin, master of ceremonies Will Gillson, Jill Reynolds' dad Dick Vierus and yours truly).Brought back by popular demand, another hit was when the Swensons' dog, Lilly, joined Sally for a well-timed, barking rendition of My Pumpkin, Daisy. Will Gillson brewmaster at the Moat Mountain Smokehouse handed out the kazoos for another tuneful, buzzing-like group kazooalong, and the Knock Knock jokes were just as bad as ever, including, Knock knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you all came here to the Pumpkinfest today?The last surprise highlight was an opera performance from Italy (well, actually, it was the playing of a CD by Andrea Bocelli, with a pumpkin puppet lip-synching the words from the front of the pumpkin stage). It was truly inspirational: opera, sung by a pumpkin, right there on Keasarge Road. Talk about culture, pumpkin style.Everyone next enjoyed some pumpkin bread and coffee, and then gathered for the traditional group photo. Yet another wonderful Lake Woebegone-like day here in the shadow of Kearsarge and Cranmore mountains, and yet another example of the mirth and low-cost fun that the Swensons bring to this valley. It's the biggest non-event of the year and probably the most beloved and eagerly looked forward to as well.CIDERFEST SEPT. 26 and 27: The White Mountain Cider Co. is hosting its annual Ciderfest Friday evening and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27. A harvest buffet with silent auction and the Hey Yeti Band will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday The cost is $60 per person ($40 tax deductible) for $550 for a table of 10. For reservation or to make a donation for the auction call 387-2739. Saturday's cider fest will feature pie contests, apple bobbing and more. For more information call 383-9061 or visit www.whitemountaincider.com.As we reported in Wednesday's Business section, M&D Productions is holding a appreciation day party Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Willow Common in North Conway to celebrate their new home there.Entertainment will be provided by Voice of the Valley winners Ashley Spalding, Rebecca Deschanes, Joel Guilford, and Ryan Deachman. Ken Martin will outline the upcoming season. Other guest speakers will be Janice Crawford of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber, Christy Hikel, M&D's educational director, Virginia Moore of the Conway area Humane Society, and Rick Broussard, editor of N.H. Magazine.A wine tasting from Vintner's Cellar will be held next door after the guest speaker. Anyone interested in attending this event should RSVP by either calling them at 662-7591 before Saturday morning, or mailing the theater at info@yourtheatre.com While the event is free donations will gladly be accepted to offset the cost of food and publicity.And there just may be some talk of bringing back ... the Spring Shampagne Stampede as a fund-raiser. Show up and get the scoop.LEWIS AND WHITE CONCERT: Liz Carleton and Lara Sullivan-White report that last Sunday night's annual Peter Lewis and Peter White Musical Scholarship Benefit Concert at the Shannon Door Pub in Jackson raised $2,502.The winner of the trip was Eileen Ryan, who is, ironically enough, a local travel agent! Among the performers who made it back for the show was John Michael Williams, a former valley entertainer who wowed'em with his rendition of California Dreamin, on which he was joined by the entire crowd. Also making a big splash was 18-year-old Bonnie Raitt look-alike Katie Rose of Berlin, who not only played American Pie," but also was the first person we've heard in years who plays anything by early 70s icon Melanie, let alone I've Got a Pair of Rollerskates (You've Got A Brand New Key).It was a real pleasure to once again get to hear the reunited Devon2 Tom Dean and Alana MacDonald perform such numbers as Bye Bye Route 66. On a personal note, a big thank you, mates, to Kevin Dolan, Davey Armstrong and the always sensational guitar-playing Simon Crawford for letting me join them for a quick rendition of The Beatles I'm Looking Through you. A real thrill for me (and hopefully not too painful for the audience).TOM ON THE TOWN: Kudos to all who did Jen's Friends' 11th annual Climb Against Cancer at Cranmore Sept. 20. More than 450 of us helped raise $58,000. The Ghoullog opens at Cranmore (356-5543) Oct. 2...And Sherman Farm's Corn Maize continues weekends through Oct. 26. Call 455-5475 for further information...The Brian Lessard Benefit at the Red Parka Pub was shaping up to be a big, big success when we spoke with Terry O'Brien at the Red Parka prior to the show Thursday night, Sept. 25. Call 383-4344 to find out ways you can help...Flatbread will host a fund-raiser for the Mount Washington Valley Addiction Treatment Solutions Oct. 2...The MWV Children's Museum opened its new Tree House exhibit Sept. 25...Happy b-days to all, including Debbie Blomquist (9-20), nephew Grant Eastman (the big 21 on 9-24), Frank DiFruscio (9-23), Lisa Oaks (9-25) and Heather Baillargeon (9-29), all of the Sun's ace sales staff, The Ear's Nina Perry (10-1), Mud Bowl fan Marcia Brodhead and all other Libras out there in readerland.That's it from this fair vending stand. See you at the night stage, Monday through Saturday nights.