Yankee Doodle Loon by Al Wakefield

The new Loon Project to benefit David’s House was featured recently on WCAX Channel 3, which posted the video for everyone to see. The news story included interviews with ECA Activities Coordinator Charlie Taber and Eastman resident Al Wakefield, who is one of the artists contributing his talent to make this project a success.

The Loon Project features two dozen 16-inch, wooden loons that have been uniquely finished by local artists in the media of their choice. Photos of the artwork can be seen at the Loon Project website.

The loons will be formally unveiled during a reception beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Bistro Nouveau at The Center at Eastman. The artisans will be available for everyone to meet, and sealed bids will be accepted. Cost is $10/person and includes hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The loons will be displayed throughout the week, with bids accepted until the conclusion of Winter Fest on Feb. 20, when the winning bidders will be announced.

This year’s Winter Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Eastman Cross Country Center. Everyone is invited for a fun filled day of outdoor activities, including skiing, sledding, ice skating, games and races, and the world famous Chili Cook-off, which begins promptly at noon.

 The cook-off is usually very well attended, so get there early, to make sure you get to taste all the entries. Winners, chosen by the votes cast by attendees, will be announced at the end of the event.

Cost for the Winter Fest and Chili Cook-off is $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger.

All proceeds from Winter Fest, the Loon Project and the Chili Cook-off benefit David’s House, a home-way-from-home for families of children who are being treated at CHaD at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

For more information on The Loon Project, Winter Fest or Chili Cook-off, contact Eastman Recreation at 603-863-6772.

The adult field is half full for the eighth annual Splash, Mash and Dash Sprint Triathlon being held June 19 to benefit the Upper Valley Humane Society.

The triathlon, hosted by Eastman Community Association in Grantham, has had a full field of adult participants for the last three years. “We’re three weeks ahead of schedule,” said Triathlon Coordinator Charlie Taber. “Last year we were full in early May, but this year we may be full in mid to late April.”

The adult race, which is USAT sanctioned, is designed for both individuals and teams of two or three. The course encompasses a 1/3-mile freshwater swim in Eastman Lake, a 12-mile bike ride through scenic Eastman and along NH Route 10, and a 5K run along the west shoreline of Eastman Lake.

The pre-registration fee is $60 for an individual and $95 for an adult team; race day registration is $10 more.  Racers who are not USAT members will be charged a $10 per person fee for a one-day membership to USAT.  Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. if the 200-person field limit is not reached prior to the race. 

There is also a Kids’ Race that is structured for individuals or teams. The course includes a 200-yard fresh water swim in Eastman Lake, a 2-mile bike ride on Road ‘Round Lake and Wellfield Road, and a 1-mile run on Clearwater Drive. The entry fee for the Kids’ Race is $25/individual and $40/team. Racers who are not USAT members will be charged a $5 fee for a yearly membership to the USAT. All racers will be awarded a finisher’s medal. 

A Post Race Bash will be held at the South Cove Activity Center. Awards will be given to the top three men and women in each age category, and the top three finishers of the team competitions.

For information about or to register for either the adults’ or children’s race, please visit the Splash, Mash & Dash website or contact Eastman Recreation at (603) 863-6772. Checks should be made payable to Eastman Recreation and mailed to Eastman Recreation, P.O. Box 53, Grantham, NH 03753.

This year’s participating businesses are McNamara Dairy (Plainfield), Taylor Brothers Sugarhouse (Meriden), Bistro Nouveau (Grantham), Allan’s Vending Service (White River Jct., Vt.), Salt hill Pub (Newport and Lebanon), The Common Man (Claremont), Lindt Chocolate (W. Lebanon), Garfield’s Smokehouse (Meriden), Laura Powers (Wilmot), The Backside Inn (Goshen), The Old Courthouse (Newport) and Rum Brook Market (Grantham).

Reservations are taken for 11 a.m. or noon. Costs are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children younger than 5. This event typically sells out; call the Cross Country Center at 603-863-4500 to make your reservation using a credit card, or stop in to pay by cash or check.

Eastman Cross Country Center is a full-service facility with snowshoe and ski rentals and sales. There is also a lighted skating pond (skate rentals available) and a sledding hill.

For more information, contact Charlie Taber or call Eastman Cross Country Center at 603-863-4500.

Nordic Nibbles is one of four ski/snowshoe dining events held in the Upper Valley each year. For more information on these family-friendly events, visit Camp Fire Dining.

The Loon Project features two dozen 16-inch, wooden loons that have been uniquely finished by local artists in the media of their choice. The loons will be unveiled during a reception beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at The Center at Eastman. The artisans will be available for everyone to meet, and bidding in the sealed bid process will begin.

The loons will be displayed throughout the week, with bids accepted until the conclusion of Winter Fest on Feb. 20.

This year’s Winter Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Eastman Cross Country Center. Everyone is invited to enjoy a fun filled day of outdoor activities, including skiing, sledding, ice skating, games and races.

The world famous Chili Cook-off begins promptly at noon and is usually very well attended, so get there early. Winners, chosen by the votes cast by attendees, will be announced at the end of the event.

Cost for the Winter Fest and Chili Cook-off is $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger.

All proceeds benefit David’s House, a home-way-from-home for families of children who are being treated at CHaD at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

For more information on The Loon Project, Winter Fest or Chili Cook-off, contact Eastman Recreation at 603-863-6772.

Splash, Mash & Dash Triathlon

The website and registration form are on-line for the eighth annual Splash, Mash and Dash Sprint Triathlon being held June 19 to benefit the Upper Valley Humane Society.

The triathlon, hosted by Eastman Community Association in Grantham, has had a full field of adult participants the last three years. That may be the case again this year as people have already begun registering.

The adult race, which is USAT sanctioned, is designed for both individuals and teams of two or three. The course encompasses a 1/3-mile freshwater swim in Eastman Lake, a 12-mile bike ride through scenic Eastman and along NH Route 10, and a 5K run along the west shoreline of Eastman Lake.

The pre-registration fee is $60 for an individual and $95 for an adult team; race day registration is $10 more.  Racers who are not USAT members will be charged a $10 per person fee for a one-day membership to USAT.  Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. if the 200-person field limit is not reached prior to the race. 

There is also a Kids’ Race that is structured for individuals or teams. The course includes a 200-yard fresh water swim in Eastman Lake, a 2-mile bike ride on Road ‘Round Lake and Wellfield Road, and a 1-mile run on Clearwater Drive. The entry fee for the Kids’ Race is $25/individual and $40/team. Racers who are not USAT members will be charged a $5 fee for a yearly membership to the USAT. All racers will be awarded a finisher’s medal. 

A Post Race Bash will be held at the South Cove Activity Center. Awards will be given to the top three men and women in each age category, and the top three finishers of the team competitions.

For information or to register, please visit the Splash, Mash & Dash website or contact Eastman Recreation at (603) 863-6772. Checks should be made payable to Eastman Recreation and mailed to Eastman Recreation, P.O. Box 53, Grantham, NH 03753.

The Eastmanaires are led by Director Joanne Whiting, organist and choir director of Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon and substitute organist at Our Lady of Fatima Church in New London, with accompanist Missy Owen and Assistant Director Bob Koester. The program includes sing-alongs and rumor has it that Mr. & Mrs. Claus may pay a visit.

Each year the Eastmanaires prepare a Christmas, late spring, and summer/patriotic program, which are performed in various venues.  Membership is open to both residents and non-residents of the Eastman Community.

For additional information, please visit the Eastmanaires website.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at The Center at Eastman, and the race starts at 11 a.m.  Individual pre-registration is $12; race day registration $14. Families can participate for $25. All fees include the awards luncheon. Registration is available on-line.

Since its inception, the Turkey Trot has provided thousands of dollars in food and gift cards to needy families through social services agencies in Grantham, Enfield and Springfield, the three communities that make up Eastman.

Eastman is a four-season, residential and recreational community. Eastman Golf Links, Eastman Cross Country Center and Bistro Nouveau at Eastman are all open to the public. For more information, contact Eastman at 603-863-4240.

Amateur photographer Roger Gossett, who lives in Eastman, has taken some wonderful photos of the loon family using his telephoto lens and a bit of patience. Visit our Loons 2009 gallery to see six of the best.

Although Eastman Community is a private community, the lake, golf course, Nordic ski trails and restaurant are open to the public. People are welcome to put in water craft at the public boat launch on Road Round Lake. Per state regulations, the speed limit on Eastman Lake is 10 miles per hour.

For more information about the community, contact ECA at (603) 863-4240 or visit our website, www.eastmannh.org.

Splash, Mash & Dash Triathlon

Grantham, NH – June 22, 2009 – Intermittent showers did not dampen the spirits of the triathletes in the seventh annual running of the Splash, Mash and Dash Sprint Triathlon on Saturday.

This year’s event sold out for the third time, with 200 adults and 26 children participating in the event. Matt Saulter of Essex Junction, Vt. won the overall event with a time of 1:05:55; Courtney Kaup of Bolton Valley, Vt. placed first for the women with a time of 1:12:59. The team of Caroline Newcomb and Dan Weinstein of Grantham won the team competition, finishing in 1:11:00, and Hunter Brayton won the children’s event with a time of 22:53.

Complete results can be found at www.coolrunning.com/results/09/nh/Jun20_Eastma_set1.shtml.

Eastman Golf Links

For those of you who need lessons, it’s not too early to sign up for “Get Golf Ready,” formerly known as Golf 101, or for Golf 201 and our new “Hole-in-one Camp” for intermediate players. Proceed to www.playgolfamerica.com, enter zip code 03753 and click on Eastman Golf Links for details. There are several sessions from which to choose.

In the golf shop, we have several sets of irons and combo sets with hybrids – both new and demo sets – at tremendous savings. Also Ping, Cleveland and Callaway golf equipment has arrived. (Until June 30, Callaway is offering a “buy a driver and receive a fairway wood for $1.00″ – yes, $1.00!) At EGL, you can always try them first.

Footjoy shoes for men and women are in stock.

If you just need your clubs regripped, EGL has lots of grips from which to choose, and we offer a quick turnaround on the work.

Eastman Golf Links is your one-stop place for golf fun and equipment. Call 603-863-4500 or visit www.eastmangolflinks.com for more information or to book a tee time.