There is such an emotional attachment to places we cherish as children. For many Massachusetts and New Hampshire families Benson's Wild Animal Farm was more than cotton candy, amusement rides, and Colossus the gorilla. Benson's was a childhood treasure...documented in our old photographs and home movies.
If you were lucky enough to visit Benson's as a child, you most likely have a special place in your heart where you keep those memories.
Benson's was for many years, and for many people, the destination for family fun.
Benson's Wild Animal Farm was closed in November, 1987
after 60 years of making Hudson, New Hampshire, a regional tourist attraction.
Now, 23 years after closing it's doors, it has been reopened as Benson Park. Volunteers have worked very hard clearing away years of neglect and vandal abuse to create a beautiful place to walk, bike or picnic.
The zoo animals and amusement rides are gone, probably forever, but the memories live on.
Restoring several original landmarks is an ongoing process by volunteers.
There are plans for the back of the gorilla house to become restrooms.
The front cage area will remain and be restored for historic purposes.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 9:00 am, Benson Park is having a grand opening celebration with cake and refreshments for everyone!
Tomorrow...
I will share vintage photos from Benson's
and some pictures I took
when I recently visited the new Benson Park.
US Navy Blue Angels - Portsmouth International Airport at Pease - August 28 & 29
The United States Navy Blue Angels are coming to Portsmouth, New Hampshire this weekend, August 28 and 29. The Blue Angelslast appeared at Pease in 1989. They will be headlining the first Pease air show in over twenty years.
Motorists can expect extremely heavy traffic on both the Spaulding Turnpike and Interstate 95 when upward of 70,000 individuals converge on Pease for this highly anticipated Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.
"We are delighted to be able to bring the world's most popular air show demonstration team to the people of New England," said Steve Wade, CEO, of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire - sponsoring the event with the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Performing in addition to the Blue Angels is New Hampshire resident and national aerobatic champion Rob Holland as well as a demonstration from the WWII era B-25 "Panchito".
There will be ground displays of many different aircraft including military jets, vintage warbirds, and civilian aircraft.
Many of the displays allow the public to walk through.
Tickets for the show went on sale in January and the flightline seat packages are all sold out.
General Admission Price: Adults - $25
Children (6-11), Seniors (60+), and Military ID - $20
Children under 5 - Free
You can purchase tickets online through 8/27/10 at a discounted price.
For more information and to view a schedule of events visit the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show website.
Guy Fieri Brings DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES to Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine!
Local fans of chef Guy Fieri and the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives are in for a real treat!
In June Guy brought his popular Food Network television show to Kittery, Maine, to highlight one of my favorite places, Bob's Clam Hut.
You can watch the show
on the Food Network
Monday, September 6
10:00pm
Bob's Clam Hut has been a favorite of seafood lovers since 1956. Bob's is located on Route 1 in Kittery, Maine and is open year round.
Bob's offers Senior Appreciation Days on Tuesdays and Kid's Night every Wednesday.
If you order at the side window, say "hello" to Lillian...
"Since Lillian started in 1986 she has taken orders at her own window. She is a big part of the tradition here at Bob's."
For more information on Bob's Clam Hut, just click any of the "Bob's" photos above to visit their website.
Seven Home Staging Steps That Will Sell Your New Hampshire Home
Home staging is preparing a house for sale. It is not decorating, it is marketing...strategic marketing. If you want to sell your New Hampshire home in the shortest time possible, a home staging consult, prior to listing, will give you all the information you need to guarantee that your product is ready for market.
Here are seven home staging steps that could mean the difference between SOLD and EXPIRED:
1. Update Light Fixtures
This is an area where a little money spent can make a huge difference and add tremendous perceived value to your house. You can add thousands of dollars of value by only spending a few hundred dollars.
2. Identify Red Flags
A red flag is something that gives potential buyers the impression that there is an existing problem, was a problem in the past, or could be a problem in the future. Common examples include water stains, storage or space issues, light switches to nowhere, protruding wiring, evidence of pets, and lack of light.
3. Pre-Pack Your Stuff
If you want buyers to consider making your house their new home, you need to remove all evidence of you and your family. The mistake most sellers make is either not removing enough or removing too much, leaving the house cold and vacant.
4. Define Space and Function
Only 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it to them. Don't expect potential buyers to try and figure out how to better arrange the furniture. It is very important, when preparing a house for sale, to clearly define the space and function of each room.
5. Maintenance Means Money
Your house is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. The more a buyer believes the house has been well maintained, the more valuable they perceive it to be. Buyers should be greeted with a spotless, move-in ready home, which gives the appearance of being well maintained and cared for.
6. Don't Underestimate The Bathroom
The most personal room in your house is the bathroom, and it is the last place buyers want to be reminded that you live there. Buyers know that other people are living in the house and obviously use the bathrooms, but emotionally, they don't want to think about it.
7. Transform With Paint
The biggest bang for your buck is using paint to improve your home's appearance. Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish. It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for.
Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features. It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.
Consult with a professional home stager prior to listing your home for the best results!
New Hampshire Home Stager, Sharon Tara, earns Prestigious RESA-PROTM Designation
Portsmouth, NH August 13, 2010 Sharon Tara, of Sharon Tara Transformations, has become the first home stager in New Hampshire to earn the RESA-PROTM designation from the Real Estate Staging Association.
As a RESA-PROTM stager, Sharon is held to the highest standards of business, ethics, and integrity. Designees must meet strict legal and ethical guidelines that include but are not limited to:
The RESA® Ethics class and exam is an extremely important factor in raising the bar for the home staging industry. RESA-PROTM is the only designation governed and regulated by the Real Estate Staging Association®.
Sharon Tara Transformations, located in Portsmouth, NH, offers professional home staging, redesign, and organization services to the Seacoast and surrounding areas.
Sharon adds, "My services are not only invaluable to clients listing their home for sale, but also to homeowners with a design challenge or who want a fresh, new look."
RESA® recently released statistics on the benefits of home staging. RESA studied 410 properties in North America and found on average staged properties are on the market 78% less time.
"There is no doubt staging benefits buyers, sellers and agents. We strongly recommend anyone considering selling their property to work with a professional stager in their local area," said Shell Brodnax, RESA's CEO.
According to Sharon, "Preparing a home for sale is not about decorating and it's much more than fresh paint and a bowl of fruit on the table. Home Staging is strategic marketing. It's minimizing the negative and maximizing the positive features. It's about creating emotional appeal and a greater sense of perceived value in the eyes of the buyer."
I am a professional home staging, redesign, and space organization specialist residing in the Seacoast city of Portsmouth, NH. I offer creative and unique solutions to both home owners and realtors.
My mission is to help New Hampshire sellers increase the emotional appeal of their property and sell for the best price in the shortest time. I am dedicated and committed to providing a professional, affordable, resourceful, creative and effective approach to each home I transform. My natural flair for organization and attention to detail are not only invaluable to clients listing their home for sale, but also to homeowners who have a design challenge or are looking for a fresh, updated look.
Making a Great First Impression
You only get that "just listed" buzz once...you want the house at it's ideal showing condition when traffic and the house's price are at their highest. It's all about first impression. Your best chance of getting closest to asking price is within the first two weeks.
A small investment in home staging can make a significant difference in the outcome of your sale.
I would love to assist you in the preparation of your house for sale.
To learn more, visit: sharontara.com
Sharon, thank you so much! We were thrilled with how quickly the house sold. It's being purchased by a young couple who really love it-and we couldn't be happier about that! The comments we received from potential buyers were great- "Does anyone live here?" "Do they really have dogs?" A lot of that was due to your advice and guidance so, thank you! When we were looking at houses for us, I was really amazed to see how some people were showing their houses. Some were great but, with others, I thought "wow, they really should have hired a stager!" Amy Richter
Sharon, I just want to thank you so much for helping me today with your awesome professional opinion. I love my new rooms so much that I keep going in and looking at them. And Paul likes them just as much; he can't believe how much bigger both bedrooms look. What a big improvement. I never thought we would move furniture, I just thought you were going to give me some ideas. It was a lot of fun and it really didn't seem like work. Again thanks so much! Rita Harrington, Nashua, NH Sharon Tara Transformations works! I sold my house in less than 90 days, and in today's market, that's great. Sharon's keen eye and creative organization skills made my home look like one you would see in a magazine. Many of the prospective buyers were surprised by the amount of space in my home once they entered. I continually got positive feedback from my realtor after showings. I have come to know Sharon through a business networking group that we both belong to. She is professional, trustworthy, and skilled. I highly recommend her, whether you are selling your home, preparing for a special event, or just need to get organized. She can make it happen! Marianne Metz Lipe If there was ever any doubt about the power of "Staging", Sharon Tara will make you a believer. She did a fabulous job for me...the house she staged sold in a month, after languishing on the market for six months with no offers. She is very professional, very accommodating, and a lot of fun to work with! I can highly recommend her. Linda Clapp, Tate and Foss, Inc. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling our house last year, I had Sharon stage my home. She gave me great advice and our house sold on the first showing! I was so impressed with her ideas, that I hired her to suggest colors for my new home. I get so many compliments on our colors, I just love it!! Thank you, Sharon, I'll surely pass your name on again, and again! Tracy Harmon, Barrington, NH Sharon Tara has worked her creative magic on several homes that I recently listed and all the homes had offers within a month's time! She is able to enhance any home with her design suggestions and works well in motivating the Seller into making the changes to get the home sold!!! Diane Boynton, Prudential Verani Realty Sharon Tara did the restaging of my entire 4000+ square foot house. The end result was absolutely spectacular. She made every room breathtaking. She put in what must have been 100's of hours shopping, picking out paint colors, etc. Even my teenage children were impressed-a testimonial unto itself! When she had finished, my home was a gorgeous showplace! I actually cannot think of a negative thing to say about the whole process. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sharon. I know that your work was instrumental in selling my home. Sherry Eldredge, Exeter, NH As a realtor, I have called upon Sharon Tara numerous times. I am always amazed at the difference she can make in the appearance of a home. She works with the homeowner to easily and very cost efficiently improve the look of the home which in turn improves the value of the home. The most amazing transformation I worked with her on is what my company calls the Cinderella house. She took a house that I thought would be stretching it to put it on the market for $800,000 and she transformed it. When she was done we put it on the market for $1,300,000. It was under agreement in 7 weeks. That never would have happened without her!!!! Donna Frederick, Prudential Verani Realty
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