Eleven children of the Mila Filatova Piano Academy, aged 5 to 15 years old, will perform piano concertos of Bach, Vogler, Haydn, and Mozart, with a chamber orchestra under the direction of David Feltner in a concert at 2 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Manchester Christian Church, 1308 Wellington Road, Manchester, NH. Admissions is free. Several of the piano concertos are very rarely performed, including a concerto Mozart composed while a child himself.

Recognizing that opportunities for very young children to play with professional musicians are very limited, Filatova organized the concerto concert as a community event where local children could perform as soloists with a chamber orchestra in a family-oriented, admission-free concert. “The idea is to inspire the children performing to achieve even higher performance standards and for the children attending to concert to see that it is possible for children to perform with an orchestra and inspire their interest in classical music,” Filatova explains. The community performance brings together soloists, chamber musicians, and a conductor from the local New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities. Even the concert grand piano for the performance is being generously provided by Darrell’s Music Hall in Nashua, NH.

The children performing have collectively won many prizes in state, national, and international piano competitions – many have performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall and across Europe. They include in alphabetical order (age, hometown): Angela Dow (13, Manchester, NH), George Kiu (9, Tyngsboro, MA), Kathryn Ly-Bishop (15, Manchester, NH), Alessandra Mariano (9, Manchester, NH), Anna Musteata (8, Hollis, NH), Maxine Park (8, Hanover, NH), Roxane Park (5, Hanover, NH), Elizabeth Rhodes (13, Concord, NH), Erin Tellier (15, Auburn, NH), Stephen Wang (11, Hanover, NH), and Annie Xu (12, Nashua, NH).

The chamber orchestra consists of area professional musicians from the Boston Classical Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Boston, Merrimack Philharmonic, Nashua Chamber Orchestra, and Springfield Symphony under the direction of David Feltner, music director of the Nashua Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Boston. Feltner has worked with young children in the past and was an enthusiastic supporter of the project.

The program includes: Haydn Concerto in F Major, H.XVIII, Vogler Concerto in C Major, Mozart Concerto #1 in F Major, K. 37, Bach Concerto in F Minor BWV 1056, and Haydn Concerto in D Major Hob. XVIII: 11.

Concert Details:

Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Manchester Christian Church | 1308 Wellington Road | Manchester, NH 03104

FREE ADMISSION

Joelle is excited to begin this new chapter in her career with the Prudential Verani family! She came to us from The Masiello Group in Concord to team up with her long-time friend, Diane Silva, who’s had a history of success in the area. The two partnered up based on their shared values and work approach. Diane moved out of state briefly and since returning to New Hampshire, there’s been a demand for her services from previous clients. As a result, she enlisted the help of Joelle to handle the Concord clients. Being a Concord resident herself, Joelle knows on a personal level the town’s key characteristics and can act as a great source of information for prospective buyers and sellers.

Joelle is a native of Paris, France and relocated to San Francisco as a young adult. In 2000, she headed to the East Coast to settle down with her family in New Hampshire.  While searching for their new home, she was introduced to the real estate world. Joelle’s agent felt her personality and lifestyle would make her the ideal agent, suggesting she look into getting her license. Joelle soon discovered she had a true passion for the industry. She finds fulfillment working with first time home buyers, providing them with education and advice to help ease the process. Joelle equally enjoys working with buyers and with sellers.

When her busy schedule permits, Joelle enjoys traveling. She has maintained a love for Paris and visits frequently. Her extensive travels have given her a deeper understanding of different walks of life. Joelle has a daughter in college and a son currently studying abroad in France. At home, Joelle has a passion for cooking.  She attends mixers and networking events with the Concord Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Capital Region Board of Realtors®.

Joelle is based in the Prudential Verani, Concord office, located at 143 North Main Street in Concord, NH. She can be reached at p: 603-224-0700, m: 603-738-3567, and e: joelle.sturms@verani.com.

As the list of safe skating ponds and lakes grows, and NHL hockey starts up, it’s coming time to think of where you and your family will go to skate this winter. In a state and region known for good ice hockey, there are piles of hockey and skating rinks throughout the state. Sifting through the noise, we managed to come up with the top 10 skating locations in New Hampshire. Mostly indoor facilities, these locations offer more than just a slate of ice on which to skate.

1. Nestlenook Victorian – Jackson, NH

Nestlenook is an experience. Topping out the list overall and in the category of outdoor skating, this is fun for the whole family. Included in the experience are rentals, sharpening, and ticket packages for families, and wide open skating. Open rates are adults (13+) $10 and children 5-13 $7. Once you’ve skated enough, there’s no need to leave. Head on over for sleigh rides and snow shoeing around the scenic north country trails. Jackson is located just south of Mt. Washington, and just north of North Conway.

2. The Rinks at Exeter – Exeter, NH

The Rinks at Exeter come in a VERY close second to Nestlenook. There is a ton of activity here. This is arguable the nicest facility on the list, with batting cages, rentals, sharpening, hockey development, stick & puck, tournaments, figure skating, and more. If you’re okay with crowds, The Rinks at Exeter offer the best indoor skating experience on this list! Click here for more info about times and rates.

3. Mt. Washington Resort – Bretton Woods, NH

This is another “experience” skating opportunity. Part of what brought this toward the top of the list was that the use of this rink is FREE. Rentals are available for $5/hr. Skating here is year round and is only available for free skating (no hockey or figure skating). The second big factor Continue reading “Top 10 Skating Locations in New Hampshire” »

2012 was a year filled with huge amounts of national and international news. So much, that our wonderful state of New Hampshire had some stories that were likely overlooked. Here are the top 5 New Hampshire-based stories you might have missed in 2012:

1. Dartmouth College President Nominated to Lead World Bank

Likely the most overlooked story by New Hampshirites in 2012, this was big news for the community of Dartmouth. On March 23, President Barak Obama announced that Dartmouth College President, Jim Yong Kim, was his nomination to take over as World Bank President in 2013. The position will be vacated by current president Robert Zoelick in June of 2013, and President Obama’s nomination meant that Kim would be the likeliest replacement. The full story, as written by NY Times reporter Annie Lowrey can be found here.

2. Concord High School Grad Qualifies for Olympics

In a sport whose spotlight is reserved for only a select few top-tier athletes, marathon runner Guor Marial made big news for another reason. He didn’t represent a country in his Olympic bid. As a young man, he escaped civil war and in what is now The Republic of South Sudan. After moving through Egypt, he found himself in Concord, NH where he starred in the disciplines of distance running. After attending Iowa State, where he ran track, he set a qualifying time to enter the Olympics this past year in London.

Unfortunately he was not a recognized citizen of the United States, and his 1-year-old country of South Sudan was not eligible for representation according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules. With some help from The U.S. Olympic Committee and NH Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Marial was granted the right to run as an independent by the IOC. Marial finished 47th in London. More on this amazing story, as written by Union Leader reporter Bill Smith, here

3. New Hampshire Elects All-Female Delegation to Congress

On the side of maybe less-surprising than the others, this story made national news before election day was technically over. It’s 5 Capitol Hill representatives will be the first all-female delegation in the history of the United States. A smaller story within this story is Maggie Hassan’s status as the only female Democratic governor elected in 2012. Joining Governor Hassan are Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte, and Representatives Carol-Shea Porter and Ann McLane Kuster. For more on this story, as written by Huffington Post reporter Laura Bassett, click here

4. New Hampshire Colleges Dominate the National Rankings

Two New Hampshire colleges made their marks on the headlines in 2012. Dartmouth College, whose presence at the top of higher education remained unwavering, was named the #10 college in the United States by U.S. News. Among other reasons , Dartmouth was ranked in the top-10 due to it’s outstanding qualification record among its teachers,freshmen retention rate of 97.8%, graduation rate of 88%, and a student:faculty ratio of 8:1 (one of the smallest for a college of it’s size). The full U.S. News report can be found here.

In what could be considered a less traditional form of recognition, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) was recognized in 2012 on an international scale. In 2012, Fast Company named SNHU the #12 Most Innovative Company in the World. That’s right, in the WORLD. A university that has made it’s name on destroying “traditional” education, SNHU was named to the list for, among other things, a massive online education network that offers over 120 programs and concentrations. The full article from Fast Company, as well as the other 49 most innovative companies, can be found here.

5. New Hampshire Residents Stand by Victims After Sandy

As New Hampshire residents helped each other recover from local damage, many were touched by the images and stories that came quickly up the coast via social media and news stations of New York in shambles. Firefighters, Red Cross  members, National Guard men and women, and every day citizens mobilized to help. Much of these stories were individual efforts with no media attention, but a few managed to get picked up. Each story, unique in its own way, can’t be summarized as a whole. Here are a few of the stories of those who came to the aid of New York:

Upper Valley Firefighters Aid Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Sandy Relief Shuttle met with Gratitude in Brooklyn

Dyn Powers Up 12/12/12 Donation Site

Dance Academy Sends Blankets to Hurricane Victims

Newmarket Company Organizes Race for Hurricane Sandy…

We haven’t had a ton of snow yet this year, but now that it’s December, it’s time to start thinking about what to do for fun in the snow. Starting off with the slightly less aggressive snow-goers, this list is for the family. If you’re part of a family that has no or very few skiiers or snowboarders, these are the places to go!

1. Bretton Woods
   Bretton Woods isn’t the cheapest, but it’s far from being the most expensive. At $5/hour the tubing rates rank in the lower third of the list. On top of it’s great value, Bretton Woods offers tubing every day of the season during the day, and night tubing on weekend evenings. This mountain allows tandem and solo tubing on each run, and has some of the best-kept tubing snow in New Hampshire. That’s why it’s #1. For more info, visit Bretton Woods Tubing
2. Gunstock
   Gunstock sells it’s tickets in 2-hour blocks. This mountain would have easily ranked #1 if not for Bretton Woods’ unbeatable pricing for the value. Gunstock’s pricing is at $18/2-hour block. There is no tandem riding, and there are small size “recommendations” that the mountain prefers to see. Gunstock also offers bulk packages for returning visitors and groups. For more info, visit Gunstock Tubing.
3. Cranmore
   As a mountain, Cranmore has been ranked #3 in the East by Ski Magazine for it’s off-hill activities. Purely for tubing purposes, Cranmore falls to #3 on this list because of pricing. At $25/2-hour block this is the 2nd most expensive place to snow tube on this list. The tubing hill has some limited hours, mostly only open on weekends and school vacations. However, if you’re looking for a place that offers tubing AND other off-hill activities, Cranmore should be at the top of your list. More info at Cranmore Tubing.
4. Great Glen Trails Continue reading “Top 10 Places to Snow Tube in New Hampshire” »

As part of the recent news announcing Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group merging their two residential companies, we are pleased to have Susanne Kimball from The Norwood Group join the Prudential Verani Team!

As a licensed NH Real Estate Agent since 2002, Susanne covers many Southern New Hampshire towns from Concord south, east to the Exeter area and west to Wilton. Her personal goal as a REALTOR® is to provide the best service she can. Susanne states, “It is so important to be able to trust and communicate effectively with your real estate agent. I make it my top priority to listen carefully to understand my clients’ real estate goals. I work with them to provide the most current data on market conditions so they can make the best choices along the way. Together, with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, we will get it done.”

Throughout the years, Susanne has built a loyal client base through hard work, honesty, commitment, and a strong focus on what matters most – her clients.

Susanne is certified for relocation services in Southern New Hampshire and is a member of the Greater Manchester Nashua Board of REALTORS®. She is married with two children and a cocker spaniel named Bear.

Susanne is based out of the Prudential Verani Bedford Office located at 165 South River Road in Bedford, NH. She can be reached at p: (603) 816-9933, m: (603) 533-4447 or by email at susanne.kimball@verani.com.

16 Races to Help Keep Off those Extra Thanksgiving Pounds

Famously referred to as “Turkey Trots,” runners around the country will be taking part in Thanksgiving Day races ranging anywhere from 1-10 miles. In New Hampshire, as of Monday, November 19, there are 16 publicized races that will be held on Thanksgiving morning. Trying to counter all that food with some good old-fashioned exercise? Below are all the locations throughout New Hampshire that are racing Thursday morning.

Click for details when available. Some races may allow walkers even if there isn’t a note below. Contact race directors by visiting Cool Running, NH for Continue reading “16 NH Towns to Host Thanksgiving Day Races” »

Veranians’ Trick Or Treat Times

• Amherst: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Bedford: 10/31, 5-7 p.m.
• Concord: 10/31, 5-7:30 p.m.
• Hampton: 10/31, 5:30-8 p.m.
• Londonderry: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Manchester: 10/31, 5-8 p.m.
• Nashua: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Portsmouth: 10/30, 5:30-8 p.m.
• Salem: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.

Don’t live in one of these towns? You can check with a few places to find out what time Trick Or Treating will be in your town. First, check your local city website for information. If you can’t find it there, NH.com has a list of times available. Still can’t find it? If you can’t find the info online, call your local town or city hall for information. It is essential for the safety of everyone that Trick Or Treaters are out during the designated times. Safety on Halloween is a top priority!

Staying  Safe for Trick or Treating in 2012

I remember trick-or-treating held during the day time on a weekend day in the fall for my entire childhood.  In the last few years trick-or-treat in Manchester, has been held on Halloween evening. This has brought some mixed feelings about having trick-or treat at night, we “Manchesterites” are used to having trick-or-treat during daylight hours.  If we wanted to trick-or-treat in the evening we would have to visit the neighborhoods of the surrounding towns.  Whether there are trick-or-treaters lining your streets on a crisp fall day, or a spooky autumn evening, we still must keep safety our #1 mission during the trick-or-treat season.   Here are a few safety tips that never get old!

• Trick-or-treat with friends and family, not alone.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Check your candy before you eat it. Make sure there are no holes or openings.
• Trick-or-treat with flashlights so drivers and other trick-or-treaters can see you.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use crosswalks when you can.
• Use sidewalks! If there are none, do your best to stay off the actual road.
• Accept, but don’t eat home-made treats.
• Only go into homes (even the cool haunted ones) if you’re with an adult.
• Stay away from fire while you’re in costume, especially open candles.

Athena Henchey is a licensed REALTOR® based in the Verani Realty,  Bedford Office. She covers the Auburn, Manchester, and Hooksett markets, and is a specialist in foreign language. For more information about Athena, to contact her, or view her listings, visit her agent page.

safety tips courtesy of http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/ . Image courtesy of inspector_81

On Saturday, September 29, 2012, the Studio of Photographic Arts (SOPHA) in conjunction with New Hampshire Catholic Charities (NHCC) held the second annual Help Portrait event. The event was to provide impoverished families with a family portrait suitable for hanging on the wall of their home.  NHCC provided the families, while SOPHA provided the facilities, more than 90 volunteers, and materials.  This year, through the 9-hour event, more than 150 families were signed up, equating to more than 500 people, and a few pets (over 55 people per hour after some quick math).  With eight studios running at the same time, families were ushered into the SOPHA, posed, photographed, and provided their portraits on the spot!

Emotions ran the gamut of every level from trepidation to enthusiastic to tears-of-joy.  Ages ranged from just 14 days old to over 85 years old.  They came from Continue reading “Help Portrait Succeeds in Manchester” »

Jen comes to Verani Realty with some time spent in real estate. Prior to her move here, she worked with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, where she specialized in the Laconia region. Now living in Barnstead, she will be covering the Greater Concord area, including Alton, Gilmanton, Barnstead, Barrington, Pittsfield, Chichester, Epsom, Northwood, and Loudon. Though she is capable of handling many property types, she knows her way around waterfront properties very well.

Having spent most of her life in New Hampshire, Jen is very familiar with the state, and is well-networked statewide. She’s lived in Northern and Southern New Hampshire, until her most recent move to Central New Hampshire. Before her move to real estate, Jen worked with Teradyne, a testing product company, for 7 years, supervising their logistics department.

Jen made the decision to move to Verani Realty because of its strong presence in Concord and the surrounding communities. “I needed a company with a strong marketing presences; a leader in the industry, but also a company with a sense of family. Verani Realty is a ‘family’ with a strong working background!”

When she’s not helping clients sell or buy houses, Jen is living a very busy family life with her husband and 3 basketball-playing children- Jordan, Jacob, and Hannah. Off the court, the family enjoys the outdoors, taking hiking and fishing trips throughout New Hampshire (currently attempting to climb the 4,000-foot New Hampshire Mountains with her father). On occasion, Jen will sit out the hiking trip with the boys, and head out shopping with Hannah.

Jen is based out of the Prudential Verani Concord Office, located at 143 N Main Street, Concord, NH. She can be reached at p: (603) 224-0700, m: (603) 717-5886 or e: jen.errington@verani.com