Despite Slow Start, Bristol's Walker Farm Hopes for a Good Maple

Volume 122 n Number xx n www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 [email protected] n 603.536.1311 n 75 Cents Despite slow start, Bristol’s Walker Farm hopes for a good maple sugaring season BY DONNA RHODES Walker’s grandfather, occur each year is a guess- the ice cream drizzled with Staff Writer Bernard Huntoon of Dan- ing game. syrup and the maple-fla- BRISTOL — There’s no bury, watched as Jason and There was no guessing vored cotton candy, but candy coating the fact that his brothers boiled the sap, about whether or not Maple there were also other treats the 2014 maple sugaring recalling earlier times when Weekend at Walker Farm like cookies and doughnuts. season isn’t going as well as his father would do every- was a popular event this People were also able to pur- hoped, but the folks at the thing the “old-fashioned year, though. Despite cold chase maple lollipops and Walker Farm Sugar Shack way.” There were no large temperatures, locals and candies, maple cream, ma- still had sap to boil during holding tanks at that time, visitors alike still flocked ple mustard, maple peanuts, last weekend’s Maple Week- no lines strung between the to the sugar house, where granulated maple sugar end open house event for trees, and certainly no re- they could observe just how and, of course, maple syrup. New Hampshire syrup pro- verse osmosis machines. the sap from a maple tree “The maple oatmeal ducers. “My father tapped every becomes the syrup on their bread has been really popu- “It’s been a pretty slow tree by hand,” said Huntoon. breakfast table. Four gener- lar today. I know it doesn’t start and really hasn’t even “He used a shoulder yoke to ations of the Walkers wel- last long around our house,” DONNA RHODES begun running yet, but we carry two buckets at a time comed the steady stream of said Walker. Bernard Huntoon kept a close eye on the sap his grandsons were were able to get enough sap and a sleigh that pulled the guests and served up their The family also held a boiling at Walker Farm’s Sugar Shack in Bristol during this past to boil the old-fashioned big tank back to boil the delicious homemade goods raffle for a basket overflow- weekend’s open house event. way for the weekend,” said sap.” for everyone to enjoy. ing with their homemade were hopeful that their the delicious prize. Jason Walker. Over the years, he has Children especially liked maple products and many name would be drawn for SEE SUGARING PAGE A13 The old-fashioned way seen many a spring when was with a wood-fired boiler the sap was slow to run, and that slowly cooked the sap other times when the sea- Classmates seek to honor the down to syrup without the son would end early with a help of a modern reverse os- quick thaw. Once buds ap- mosis machine, which can pear on the trees, the season help speed up the process. is over, but when that will memory of Jared VanAalst BY DONNA RHODES “We upped the goal on Staff Writer how much we wanted to First Star Tonight PLYMOUTH — While raise to buy an even nicer they didn’t manage to orga- bench. I’m hoping we can nize a 20th reunion in time get enough to put a photo of Gala set for April 4 for last year, Plymouth Re- him on it and maybe buy a gional High School’s Class tree or something to go be- BY DONNA RHODES dren can keep up with their of 1993 will be gathering for side it,” Hurst said. “Any Staff Writer schoolwork while hospital- a belated reunion this Sep- extra funds we have we’re PLYMOUTH — It’s time ized or at home recovering. tember, and will be using going to donate to the Plym- once again for the annual Likening themselves to a that opportunity to honor outh Booster Club.” First Star Tonight Gala din- grass roots Make-A-Wish one of their fallen class- The group would addi- ner, to be held on Friday, foundation, First Star To- mates, Jared Van Aalst, tionally like to make a con- April 4, and organizers are night has also helped chil- who died in the line of duty tribution to the JVA Me- hoping the residents of the dren recuperate through while in Afghanistan. morial Foundation set up Pemi-Baker, White Moun- a trip to summer camp Trisha (Swain) Hurst is COURTESY PHOTO by VanAalst’s wife Katie tain, and Newfound Re- or places such as Disney one of the organizers of the Jared VanAalst of Plymouth High School’s Class of ‘93 was killed to provide scholarships for gions and beyond will help World. reunion, and said the class while serving in Afghanistan, and his classmates are now gathering deserving students. make the 27th year of their This year’s fundrais- is raising funds to place a funds to place a bench in his honor on the high school grounds and A special half time trib- all-important fundraiser ing dinner will again take decorative granite bench in make donations in his name to the PRHS Booster Club and the JVA ute to Van Aalst is being another big success. place at the Common Man VanAalst’s memory on the Memorial Foundation. planned for the homecom- First Star Tonight is a Restaurant in Plymouth. grounds of the high school. might be suitable for the spreads among the mem- ing weekend football game program that assists fami- Brian Chalmers, chair of “We wanted to do some- tribute. Since VanAalst bers of the Class of ’93, the at PRHS in September. The lies who have a child with a the FST Board of Directors, thing in memory of Jared, was very involved in sports enthusiasm has grown, bench will also be dedicat- serious medical condition. said there will be two seat- and came up with this idea. during his years at PRHS, and donations have been ed at that time by the class It was begun by a Plymouth ings for the night, one at He’s the first person we lost Hurst said she hopes the pouring in to purchase the as part of their reunion State University professor 6 p.m., when families can in our class, and we want- bench might look out over bench. Hurst said in addi- weekend activities. whose own daughter was come out for a great meal ed to honor and remember the football field. tion to those funds, they Those who would like to ill and hospitalized at Dart- with their children, and a him,” Hurst said. “He was captain of the now would like to allow contribute to the memorial mouth-Hitchcock Medical second at 7:30 p.m. when When approached with football and wrestling others in the community can do so by visiting http:// Center in Lebanon. As he adults will enjoy dinner, a the idea, officials at PRHS teams, so I think he would the opportunity to make www.gofundme.com/jared- drove home from the hospi- live auction and dancing to were very receptive, and really like something like a donation, too, since so vanaalstmemorial where tal one night, he looked up to the Chris White Band. said they already have a that,” she said. many knew and loved Va- secured online donations see the first star of the eve- Throughout the night, few places in mind that As word of the project nAalst. can be made. ning shining brightly in the there will be plenty of raffle sky. He said a prayer at that items up for grabs as well, Pemi-Baker students display their creative side at Cultural Arts Night time, in which he promised and “110-percent” of all pro- to help others if his child ceeds from the evening will BY DONNA RHODES could be saved. And with benefit FST and their mis- Staff Writer that promise, First Star To- sion to help families of local PLYMOUTH — Cultur- night was born. communities. al Arts Night at Plymouth Since its inception 27 Dinner will include Regional High School on years ago the organization salmon with a citrus vinai- March 19 celebrated its 34th has provided local families grette, a chef-cut New York year in saluting the works with many types of support. Sirloin, salad, rolls, side of students in the Pemi-Re- FST supplies gift cards for dishes, appetizers, bever- gional School District. gas money to travel to med- ages and desserts. A vege- Each year, the district ical appointments, funds tarian option will also be allows its young stars to for prescriptions, and even available. shine when their talents are special needs like glasses “It’s one of the first signs placed on display, be it art, or laptop computers so chil- of spring when we hold the woodworking, music or the- First Star Tonight Gala and ater. Proud parents and fam- Index we hope everyone will join ily members come from all n us in supporting a worthy six of the district’s schools cause,” said Chalmers. to admire the hundreds of BUSINESS...........................B10 Tickets are $35 for adults, creative pieces hanging in CALENDAR OF EVENTS..........B4 - 5 CHURCH NEWS................B6 - B9 $15 for children, and they hallways and showcases CLASSIFIEDS.................B12 - B17 are available at the UPS along with the music of the HEALTH, SR., FITNESS............B10 Store on Main Street in choruses and bands.

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