Portsmouth New Hampshire implemented a free wi-fi area a couple of years or so ago in the downtown business area.  It's gone over so well and the use of it has grown so much that the City of Portsmouth will be expanding our free wi-fi area.  This new expansion will include most areas of the town, and that is great news!  Terrific news for residents and businesses alike!  And I'd bet our visitors will be loving having access to free wireless internet while visiting our lovely seaside town, too! As we've heard on the news, a number of cities and towns around the country are giving up their wi-fi networks, due to a variety of reasons, mostly high costs of maintaining them and/or the systems that were put in place were too complicated.  Many of those cities and towns put their networks in ... 11/26/2007

 Cottage on Cookie BlvdPortsmouth steps up to celebrate all the holidays but we pull out all the stops in December for things to do. I have put together a short list of happenings to share with you and also to get my own schedule organized. Now there's a win-win situation.Friday November 30 Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting 6pm in Market Square. ProPortsmouth organizes this event and is asking everyone to bring a canned food item with them for the Seacoast Food Pantry. You can also drop off donations at the Chamber of Commerce on 500 Market Street.Starting Saturday December 1 28th Annual Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke from 4-9pm. This event opens up the historic house musuems for the first 3 weekends of the month. Please stop by the Gingerbread House competition and cast your vote... 11/26/2007

Real Estate Market Update -Week 4  For November 18-24, 2007 Rockingham County, New HampshireSingle Family Homes Total Listings Available 2,301Price Range $94,900 - $9,500,000Total New Listings This Week 54Price Range $169,900 - $2,995,000Total Pending This Week  31Total Withdrawn This Week 35Total Expired This Week 62Total Sold This Week 28CondosTotal Listings Available 1,000Price Range $59,900 - $$1,337,000Total New Listings This Week 16Price Range  $75,000 - $599,000Total Pending This Week 3Total Withdrawn This Week 13Total Expired This Week  25Total Sold This Week 8This information for Rockingham and Strafford counties is compiled through NNEREN, Northern New England Real Estate Network for the period listed. Information is deemed reliable but not infallible.Shannon Aldrich, Keller W... 11/26/2007

This time of year is very special to me as it is to most of us. Here in Portsmouth it is a time to give thanks by giving back to the community. I became a Rotarian over 11 years ago and was honored to serve as our Club President in 2002-2003. Serving the annual Thanksgiving Dinner has always been my favorite volunteer activity. It takes over 100 volunteers to put on the event. This year we are celebrating the 36th time the dinner has been hosted by the club.The dinner consists of two groups - those that come to the Unitarian Church in Portsmouth for a traditional sit down meal at 12 noon and those who have the meals delivered. We expect over 125 guests for dinner this year for the sit down family style meal and to deliver 100 meals to shut ins. We even provide a next day "left-over" tur... 11/21/2007

Real Estate Market Update -Week 3  For November 11-17, 2007 Rockingham County, New HampshireSingle Family Homes Total Listings Available 2,338Price Range $44,900-$9,500,000Total New Listings This Week 62Price Range $139,900-$1,900,000Total Pending This Week  24Total Withdrawn This Week 32Total Expired This Week 85 Total Sold This Week 33CondosTotal Listings Available 1,011Price Range $59,900-$1,337,000Total New Listings This Week 20Price Range  $104,900-$479,900Total Pending This Week 15Total Withdrawn This Week 12 Total Expired This Week 28Total Sold This Week 24This information for Rockingham and Strafford counties is compiled through NNEREN, Northern New England Real Estate Network for the period listed. Information is deemed reliable but not infallible.Shannon Aldrich, Keller Willia... 11/20/2007

Portsmouth Market Square - WiFi Hot SpotA major expansion is in the works which will make free WiFi access plentiful in the downtown area of Portsmouth. It's planned that there will be free internet access from Prescott Park in the South End and throughout the entire Islington Street corridor.  Currently most of Market Square has coverage with a WiFi terminal located at the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Information Kiosk. Signal is strong but in some places our traditional brick architecture sometimes blocks the signal. We have had free access downtown now since 2003. Perfect amenity for all our visitors coming to Portsmouth wanting to check email or use digital devices. No public tax dollars have been spent or will be spent on the project. There have been many cash and equipment donat... 11/15/2007

The upcoming holiday season brings family fun and good times, and it's also that time of year when many turn their thoughts to those less fortunate.       There are several wonderful charitable opportunities coming up to help others in the Seacoast area:~  Seacoast Local Food Drive - benefits the Seacoast Family Food Pantry here in Portsmouth NH and the Footprints Food Pantry in Kittery Maine.  This food drive is running now through Nov. 17th, and again from Dec. 15 - 22nd.   Seacoast Local and Buy Local programs are heading up this food drive, and donations can be dropped off at any "Buy Local" member business.  You can check www.seacoast-local.org for the list of drop-off sites and the list of foods needed. ~  Club Finz Sock, Hat, Mitten Drive - this clothing drive is headed up by the... 11/10/2007

     If you love holiday fairs as much as I do, you'll want to mark down these dates and locations!  The holiday fairs have already started, with a couple of early ones this past weekend.  Not to fear though, as there are plenty more coming up all around the Seacoast areas of Maine and New Hampshire! Nov. 10 - Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Fair - 10am to 4pm, Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth NH.Nov. 10 - Jingle Bell Fair, First Congregational Church, Hampton NH. Nov. 10 - Holiday Craft Fair, Moose Lodge - 9am to 3pm, Portsmouth NH.Nov. 11 - Holiday Alternative Gifts Fair - 11:30 to 1pm, Durham Community Church, Durham NH. Nov. 11 - Sonersworth Youth Hockey Annual Penny Sale, Somersworth High School, Somersworth NH.Nov. 15- Craft Fair, Dondero Elementary School - 4pm to 6pm, Portsmouth ... 11/08/2007

 Today, Nov 6, 2007, is Election Day here in Portsmouth New Hampshire, as I know it is in many towns around the country.  I'm glad today is finally here, not just because we can exercise our right to vote and have a say in how our local towns are going to be run, but because all those campaign signs will be coming down very soon.  Here in Portsmouth, anywhere there's a couple square feet of city-owned land, you'll find that space crammed with campaign signs from all the candidates running for one office or another.  And that means that just about every intersection you come to, that's all you can see.  And it's an ugly sight, in my opinion.Over the last couple of weeks, I've had several sets of out of state buyers here looking into buying homes here in the Portsmouth area.  Let me tell ... 11/06/2007

Local Real Estate Activity - Week Week of 10/28-11/3/2007Rockingham County, New Hampshire   Single Family HomesTotal Listings Available 2,442Price Range $44,900-$9,500,000Total New Listings 59Price Range $135,500 - $860,000Total Pending This Week 33Total Sold This Week 65CondosTotal Listings Available 1,032Price Range $59,900-$1,337,000Total New Listings This Week 34Price Range $87,500-$324,900Total Pending This Week 12Total Sold This Week 27This information for Rockingham and Strafford counties is compiled through NNEREN, Northern New England Real Estate Network for the period listed. Information is deemed reliable but not infallible.North Mill Pond, Portsmouth NHVisit Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH to search listings 24/7 or to receive a FREE Market Anal... 11/05/2007

Autumn is fully upon us now here in New Hampshire, and most of the gorgeous fall foliage has fallen or been blown out of the trees.  There's a chill in the air, and the furnaces have begun kicking on to keep us warm.BUT, have no fear, there's still plenty of fun things to do in Portsmouth and the surrounding Seacoast towns of Maine and New Hampshire! Check out this sampling of the variety of things going on during the month of November.  I'll sure you'll find something to please everyone!  And you'll see that November is certainly the month for Holiday Arts and Crafts Fairs here, too!~~ Nov. 4 - Smart Energy Expo, products & services for a sustainable future, at Marshwood High School, South Berwick ME.  (207-763-5616)~~ Nov. 6 - Local Elections, all across the state of New Hampshire - g... 11/03/2007

We just got back from spending a week with my dad down in Clermont, Florida, which is where we're originally from.  I fly down several times a year, and it makes for a nice little break for some R & R, and I LOVE being with my family, too!This time while we were down there, Bear noticed something neither of us had ever noticed before - all the water towers had cell phone antennas or cones on them.  A LOT of them, too.  Imagine the revenue that town is collecting by using something they already had in place that's tall enough to work for all the cell phone companies that service that area?  Just look at the top of this water tower - quite a few up there!  And my dad told us about something we thought was really ingenious - check out this flag pole.....This 'flag pole' is really a cell ph... 11/01/2007

  A spooky spectacular that takes over the streets of Portsmouth for the most unusual of local festivals. The 13th Annual Halloween Parade stroll through the streets of Portsmouth. This year they estimated 800 marchers (I was one of them) and 2,000 onlookers. Many of the on-lookers were just as dressed up as the marchers! Our local Leftist Marching Band was in attendance with all their post-school band glory. The kids from New Heights teen after school program were out in force with drums and stiltwalkers. They went for the Egyptian theme this time including pyramid. My favorite of the night came down to two families - First place for Princess Leia, Luke and baby Yoda. Second place for the family Shrek including a pony dressed up as Donkey! This year's Grand Marshall was Chris Elliot as... 11/01/2007

                       "One of the top five best places to live in America" That's what Money Magazine dubbed Portsmouth New Hampshire not all that long ago.  That's quite an honor, and a great distinction for people when considering a move to Portsmouth.We have so much to offer both residents and visitors alike.  As a matter of fact, many buyers I've worked with over time initially came here as visitors, returning again and again, and then decided to make Portsmouth their primary home.    Five GREAT reasons to make Portsmouth YOUR home:~~  Portsmouth has a terrific location!  We are right here on the coast of New Hampshire, just 45 minutes south of Portland Maine and 45 minutes north of Boston, Mass.  The closest snow skiing is an easy 30-40 minute drive to Gunstock Ski Mountain.  The ... 10/31/2007

 To live here in New Hampshire is to live in one of the prettiest states in the country, especially in the fall.  Our fall foliage is enjoyed every year by millions of people from all over the world.And the best thing ever -  I live RIGHT HERE and get to enjoy all of this everywhere I drive!Here in Portsmouth NH, where I live, our foliage lags behind most of the rest of the state by a week or two.  We're the southeastern part of New Hampshire, and right here along the coast.  Ah, the good life - the town of Portsmouth , the ocean right here, moderate weather, and yet the mountains and all the activity in those areas as close by as well! Take a look at some pictures of the absolutely glorious fall foliage I see every day, on my way to work and anywhere else I drive around the area -     ... 10/21/2007

Fall is certainly fair and festival time here in New Hampshire and Maine!  For the last few weeks, we've had the pleasure of lots of fairs all over the place, and this coming weekend is no exception.We've got 3 great festivals here in the local Portsmouth NH area - check them out!! One of the local favorites here in Portsmouth is the 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off.  This is a long-standing favorite that's held at our beautiful in-town Prescott Park along the Piscataqua River.  Lots of area restaurants compete and vie for the "Best Chili" title to proudly display in their restaurant for all to see.  Bragging rights galore to the winners of this yearly contest!If you love chili, this is a great opportunity to try a wide variety of chili from all over this area.  Some of the chili dishes you'l... 10/11/2007

It's that time of year again when all of our senses are treated to Mother Nature's fall glories - sights, sounds, smells.  And Portsmouth NH's very own Pumpkin Patch touches on all of those!!Just down the street from me is a site I look forward to every year - you just can't help but smile inside and out when you drive by and see all the thousands of pumpkins just waiting to go home with someone.   And not only can you get pumpkins of all shapes and sizes here, but you can get home-baked goodies as well.  This is such a happy place to stop and visit!  Sit a spell on one of the benches amongst the pumpkins.  There are some families that bring picnic lunches to enjoy being in the "Patch". These pumpkins come from an Indian Reservation in Arizona, with the first shipment having arrived thi... 10/07/2007

Fall is in the air here in New Hampshire and Maine, and the fun things continue to go on!  You can see by the sampling of events I've listed below that New Hampshire and Maine offer fun for everyone all year long.October brings with it the brilliant grand display of Mother Nature's foliage colors - everywhere you look in about 2 weeks or so, you'll see the most magnificent show in all of nature.  The fiery reds of the sugar maples, red maples and sumac; the brilliant oranges of maples and sassafras; the gold and yellows of birch, ash, hickory, beech, oak, and other varieties of maples - this is what draws millions of guests to our great state of New Hampshire every fall.    While here in NH checking out our spectacular foliage show, take in some of these fun things around the Seacoast r... 10/01/2007

 If you love fairs and festivals, come on up and over to the Seacoast areas of New Hampshire!  We've some great ones going on now and coming up in the next few weeks, too. Who REALLY doesn't LOVE a fair or festival, especially this time of year???  I love them all!    Read more »      To learn more about New Hampshire, and in particular the Portsmouth areas, be sure to check out my Community Tours, and the information links below ~ Portsmouth New Hampshire Community ToursPortsmouth New Hampshire HomesSeacoast New Hampshire and Maine Real EstateInformation on New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast TownsBuying New Hampshire and Maine Real EstateSelling Real Estate in New Hampshire and Southern Maine                                    Ann Cummings  RE/MAX Coast to Coast  Portsmouth NH  888-349-5... 09/21/2007

 If you're a history buff, then Portsmouth New Hampshire is the place for you!  Portsmouth was settled in 1623, and history abounds everywhere here.  We have numerous historical homes open to the public for tours, as well as museums, galleries, and privately-owned historical homes all over town.One of our special places for those who love history is Strawbery Banke, in the north end of Portsmouth, just off the downtown area along the shore of the Piscataqua River.    Strawbery Banke got its name from the English explorers who settled here in 1630 because of the abundance of wild strawberries growing all over the place.  This settlement became the beginnings of one of the country's earliest cities.  And yes, it really is spelled ‘Strawbery' and 'Banke' - this spelling goes back to the Co... 09/17/2007