HEAR YE!  HEAR YE!

Joel Lefever has been named the Museum of Old York’s new executive director by the Board of Trustees. Lefever will replace former executive director Scott Stevens, who has tendered his resignation.  The Search Committee, comprised of five current trustees and one former trustee, selected three finalists from 82 candidate resumes. All three had a 2-day site visit that included a tour of the Old York buildings and a variety of meetings with trustees, former trustees and staff.  (Continued below)

The late David Schirmer (1919-2010) first traveled to the Iberian Peninsula before the Portuguese revolution of 1974, taking photographs that are still relevant today, according to Douglas Wheeler, curator of the Portsmouth Athenaeum's new exhibit. "They evoke the timeless quality of Portuguese life -- fishermen on the shore, oxen on the roads, the old Portugal that is still there," Wheeler said. "You can still see scenes like this." (Continued below)

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The cherry trees next to City Hall are blooming, at the same time Washington DC is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees from Japan to the US “as a living symbol of friendship between the Japanese and American peoples.” The Japanese Government is commemorating the anniversary by donating cherry trees grown from cuttings of the original DC trees to select cities around the country. Portsmouth is one of only three cities in New England (the others are Boston and Pawtucket) selected to receive the special trees.(Co9ntinued below)

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

A new colorful history of the Isles of Shoals is at the printers with plans for an early May release – thanks to local supporters. Under the Isles of Shoals traces 6,000 years of history at Smuttynose Island based on 250,000 artifacts recently unearthed on the tiny rocky island. Written and co-designed by historian J. Dennis Robinson, the book features over 180-images including rare artifacts, candid photos of the student “diggers” at work, and historical pictures rarely seen. It also features five original illustrations by well-known artist Bill Paarlberg. The book will be published by the Portsmouth Marine Society, now operated by the Portsmouth Historical Society. (Continued below)