June none too soon

By Tom Eastman

SUDDENLY JUNE, and the valley is in full bloom (and after all of the rain in May, in full mosquito onslaught, we're sorry to report).

My late grandmother Leone Moore Eastman always used to say that June was the shortest month and that we'd be at the Fourth of July before we knew it, and somehow that always seems about right.

THEATER IN THE WOOD SERIES: Topping the agenda this first weekend of June is the Adam Ezra Group, which kicks off the June entertainment series at Theater in the Wood in Intervale on June 3. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door.

They've been popular at previous shows at the Theater in the Wood, so host A.O. Lucy expects a good turnout.

Next up in the series is Yankee humorist Fred Marple on June 10. Tickets are $14 in advance and $20 at the door.

Then on June 17, there will be "An Evening with Spirit with Sara Moore," featuring our hockey-playing resident local psychic medium who works with pets as well as human ghosts. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door, with a VIP ticket costing $40 (the latter includes a five-minute personal reading before the show).

The final show on June 24 will feature Noah Smith and Junco. Smith won this year's WMWV 93.5-FM Local Song of the Year contest with his song, "Make A Change," beating out Junco's "Broken Window" by just 50 votes — so we'll get to hear both the winner and the runner-up. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

A ticket for the entire series is $48 — available online only. All shows start at 7:30 p.m.

Remember: all shows at Theater in the Wood are bring your own beverage. Proceeds benefit Believe in Books Literacy Foundation. For more information, visit www.believeinbooks.org or call (603) 35June 9980.

IN MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS last weekend, I stopped by Tuckerman Brewing Co. on Saturday to hear the roots rock of Girls, Gun and Glory. The Boston-based quartet plays a mixture of country and rock — as fan Michael Saras told me in between dancing to their tunes, "I love these guys! The singer (Ward Hayden) croons like a cross between Hank Williams meets Roy Orbison!"

He does at that, with Ward also able to do a great Elvis Costello cover ("What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?"). He and his bandmates also did probably the best cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" that I've ever heard since Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox's character) played it in "Back to the Future."

Next up in the series is the Starlight Honeys (winners of the 2016 WMWV Song of the Year contest for "Ten Rod Road") on June 10, and Chris Ross and the North June 11, with both shows from 4 to 7 p.m. outdoors at the Hobbs Street brewery. Visit www.tuckermanbrewing.com or call (603) 447-5400.

FEEL THE BARN SERIES: Kimball Packard reports there was a strong turnout for the second show in this summer's Feel the Barn Series at the Farmstand Bed and Breakfast in Chocorua last Sunday, and judging by his posts on Facebook, there was a lot of dancing going on! The show featured the roots rock of the Jamie McLean Band of New Orleans.

Next up on June 23 is the Acadian quartet Croga. Visit www.thefarmstand.net or call Neysa or Kimball at (603) 323-6169.

DUCK DYNASTY CONTINUES: Per past years, your intrepid reporter was up in Jackson for the 28th annual Wildquack River Festival and Duck Race last Sunday during Memorial Day Weekend, and it was once again a quicken' good time for young and old alike. Our slowpoke of a duck didn't win any prizes in the annual rubber duck race down the churning wild and scenic Wildcat River, but it was nonetheless a lot of fun, especially watching the young duck herders do their thing, with at least one going for an unintended short swim down river.

Kudos to Kathleen Driscoll of the Jackson area Chamber, ever wacky master of ceremonies Rob Clark and son Andrew; Barbara Theriault and all the other volunteer helpers, Sweeney Creations, Black Mountain and so many other businesses and helpers who make this such a wonderful just ducky day on the river and in the park.

IN HAPPY BIRTHDAY greetings, we salute one and all Geminis, including photographer Judy Holmes and avid skier Donna L. Cleary (June 2), former Sun sales rep Rick Luksza, Mr. Rock 'n Roll Christopher J. Emmel, Valerie Nickerson and Erik Atwell (all June 3); a big Happy 18th to talented KHS grad Riley Parkhurst, who will be rocking' on guitar at her birthday musical bash (June 4); Dr. Leo Kenney and Mexico guide DeeDee Kelly (also June 4); local ski historian Stefi Reed Hastings and Majestic proponent Nancy Devine, Joel Weiss and Mary Anne Sledzinski (all June 5); and Kathy Gallagher, Ed Johnson, Del Carrier of "Christmas Can Cure" and Jen Julian (June 6).

WE END with this insightful quiz: What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo?

One is really heavy, and the other is a little lighter.

Ouch! That's all the "Covefefe" that fits for this climate-challenged week. Believe me ....