The light displays and Santa’s Village are created by 3 Dudes Productions and Winterland, Inc. After success with previous light parks across the country, the two companies were eager to join forces to bring this event to New Hampshire. David Fred, owner of Winterland, the Indiana-based company responsible for installing the lights. “The light park is a staycation! It is affordable entertainment that creates everlasting memories,” says Fred. “As people return each year, they say they have been looking forward to experiencing the magic of the holiday season by coming to our light shows.”

All of the light parks created by the 3 Dudes and Winterland partnership will be giving back to charitable organizations. One hundred percent of New Hampshire Motor Speedway proceeds will be given to Speedway Children’s Charities, an organization that cares for children in education, financial, social, and medical need.

The event also will be a drop-off site for Toys for Tots, the US Marine Corps Reserve program that aims to collect new toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. Lastly, Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will benefit the Salvation Army, helping further their mission of assisting those who are homeless, abused, or disadvantaged. Visitors will receive discounts in exchange for donations to either of these two organizations. “Giving to those in need is really what the Christmas season is all about,” says Mike Miller, president of 3 Dudes Productions.

The light park is open nightly from November 18 through January 1, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours of operation are Sunday–Thursday, 6pm–9pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm–10pm. Admission is $15 per car. For more information, visit www.NewHampshireGiftOfLights.com.

by Chad Denning

Have you heard about the new electric bikes? Stop by Village Sports in New London or Golf & Ski Warehouse in West Lebanon and check them out!

John Kiernan, owner of Village Sports, carries the Torker brand bike in his shop. The bike is extremely easy to operate, surprisingly light, and zooms up to a comfortable 18 mph. So who’s buying this bike? “The customer base seems quite broad,” John says. “We sell electric bikes to people in their twenties and to those in their eighties. The largest customer group is active middle-aged folks.”

Reasons for purchasing electric bikes are as varied as the people who by them, according to John. “I think the main reasons to consider buying one are for a unique riding experience, to get motivated to bike more, staying fit, saving money, and the satisfaction of making a forward-thinking purchase.”

The electric bike is similar to other bikes with pedals, wheels, and a drive train, but it also has an electric-assist motor in the front hub, complete with a lithium ion battery for power. The typical bike carries a charge for two continuous hours or up to 40 miles and can be recharged in four to five hours on a normal 120v outlet. There are many different types of electric bikes on the market today, differentiated by design, weight, and purpose. Prices range from $1,000 to $2,200.

Golf & Ski Warehouse in West Lebanon carries electric bikes and features the Hebb product line. Store manager Nick Matulonis says, “These bikes are a great way to commute in this age of going green. People are saving gas, saving money, and having lots of fun.” Chris, a sales associate, agrees, “The electric bike is an experience you will never forget!”

Space is still available at the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Summer Boat Building programs in Wolfeboro for those who act quickly. Classes are specially designed for youth, family, and adults. Some scholarship money is still available for youth who qualify. Students leave with their own boat to enjoy for years to come. Registration and financial aid forms can be found on-line at www.nhbm.org/programs.

“To date, we have mentored and taught over 175 youth and adults to build more than 135 wooden boats as part of our efforts to preserve the heritage of boating in New Hampshire,” states Hank Why, NHBM Chair.

Students are taught the safe use of hand and small power tools by expert teachers. Students choose which boat they wish to build from kits made by NHBM volunteers: a one-person canoe, one-person kayak, 12-foot Bevin’s Skiff, and a 12-foot Passagemaker with optional sail rig.

Select from the following sessions:

• Youth Boat Building, designed for girls and boys ages 12 to 16 years. Two 10-day sessions: June 20–July 1 or August 8–19; 9am–3pm.
• Family Boat Building, designed for a team of parent(s) or grandparent(s) and a child (recommended minimum age 10 years old). Great for grandchildren visiting this summer. One 6-day session: July 5–10, 8:30am–3:30pm.
• Women and Men Boat Building will be offered July 23–30, 8:30am–3:30pm

All tools and equipment are provided. Students need only to bring their lunch and water and be sure to wear work clothes.

Scholarships are still available for youth to build a canoe; financial aid forms are found on the website that must be completed to determine if they qualify. Funding for these scholarships are provided through the generosity of grants and donations by the Bald Peak Community Fund, The Collectors Fund, New England Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, New England Lyman Group, Wolfeboro Lions Club, and others.

These Boat Building classes are one of several educational program offered by the New Hampshire Boat Museum. Founded in 1992, the New Hampshire Boat Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization focusing on boating heritage and life on the lakes and rivers of New Hampshire. For more information, contact the New Hampshire Boat Museum at (603) 569-4554, e-mail museum@nhbm.org, online at www.nhbm.org, or follow them on Facebook. Mon.–Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 12–4pm.

Remember the days when rain was fun–when you went outside purposely to jump into puddles, not caring about the muddy mess it made on your trousers? Well, maybe you’re not as easily amused as you were at five, but regardless, you’ll need some kind of defense this season against those deep, muddy puddles. Thankfully, rain boots today aren’t as clunky as they used to be. This spring, your feet can be stylish, and dry, inside some of these fashionable rain boots.

Before shopping for boots online, check out local retailers to find an array of just about any style you can think of. From checkers to floral patterns to classy plaid print, you’ll be able to match your personal style with a great pair of boots! Or, if you want to go for the more classical look, try a pair of bright yellow Wellies to match your rain slicker. With the new durable, waterproof styles, you don’t have to walk around all those puddles, you can wade through them.

Don’t dread mud season this year. Get outside and break up the slush with a pair of new stylish boots instead!

By Barbara Morris

Concord Green Drinks is one of four active gatherings taking place every month in New Hampshire. The other Green Drinks events are in Keene, Portsmouth, and the Mount Washington Valley. All are part of Green Drinks International, which was founded 20 years ago in the United Kingdom and is now in 579 cities worldwide. In less than nine months, Concord Green Drinks has become an important networking event that takes place the third Tuesday night of every month at the Barley House on Main Street in Concord.

Bringing People Together

“Concord Green Drinks is an informal gathering of people involved in clean energy, green building, local food, and the environment as well as folks from companies and organizations that support sustainable products and services,” says Green Drinks organizer Barbara Morris. Morris gives Steve Reddy and his green home building company, Zetland Homes, LLC, credit for bringing the organizers together last March at the State Home Show when they learned about Green Drinks and discovered that Concord did not have a chapter. According to Reddy, “We worked hard to bring Green Drinks to Concord as we thought the capital city was a great place for this.” Zetland Homes, LLC, is the corporate sponsor of Concord Green Drinks.

Alex Lee, Founder & Executive Director, Project Laundry List, nationally headquartered here in Concord, NH, explains Jevon’s Paradox at the 8th Gathering in January 2010 and why behavioral change trumps energy efficiency in positively impacting climate change.

Compelling Speakers

Reddy and Morris work to arrange compelling speakers and monthly sponsors for the event. In January, Alex Lee, founder and executive director of the national nonprofit Project Laundry List, headquartered in Concord, gave an eye-opening and entertaining presentation on why it is most urgent people line-dry their laundry and wash in cold water. February’s sponsor, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, marked the one-year anniversary of the ReConnect Program, meeting the goal of recycling one million computers throughout Northern New England. In March, Jon Turk will be featured while on his national book tour promoting his recently released book, The Raven’s Gift: A Scientist, a Shaman, and Their Remarkable Journey through the Siberian Wilderness. April’s gathering features Brian Dombroski of Pella Concord discussing Pella Windows’ line of energy-efficient windows and information on tax credits for energy-efficient improvements.

Learn more about the international phenomenon Green Drinks at www.greendrinks.org and visit the Concord Green Drinks webpage by clicking on USA, New Hampshire, and Concord. Follow Concord Green Drinks on Facebook by joining the Green New Hampshire Group.