OUR TOWNS Surry, New Hampshire

Though visitors to Crescendo Acres in Surry almost always remark on the beautiful view, owner Russ Fiorey says with a laugh. &emsp;&emsp;"We don't think anything of it; it's just every day," he says. &emsp;&emsp;That seems to be the consensus from folks who live in town. &emsp;&emsp;"Surry's always just a nice, quiet, enjoyable location," Fiorey says, and the people who live there like it that way. &emsp;&emsp;For years, Fiorey and his wife Diana enjoyed outdoor hobbies, like raising chickens, tapping trees and riding horses. But over time, those pastimes evolved into more extensive farming. &emsp;&emsp;"We both retired, and we said, we've still got to make a living, so we just expanded," he says. &emsp;&emsp;Now Crescendo Acres Farm is known for a variety of reasons. People come for eggs, syrup and honey, as well as sought-after alpaca socks and goods. Fifteen years ago, the Fioreys brought in alpacas to clear the fields; they also seemed a good fit for Diana's love of knitting. Now they are a focal point on the farm, where visitors love to see them up close and enjoy the incredibly soft, warm fiber they produce. &emsp;&emsp;Another one of Diana's passions, miniature horses, has also led to a surprisingly important part of the couple's livelihood. Unlike larger horses, minis grow hair year-round, so they must be clipped often, especially if they are being shown. The blades are expensive and typically have to be sent by mail for sharpening. &emsp;&emsp;When a set of 25 of their blades got lost in the mail, the Fioreys decided to take matters into their own hands, literally. The couple bought a small business with the equipment they'd need to handle blade-sharpening themselves. &emsp;&emsp;"To date, I've sharpened over 20,000 clipper blades," Fiorey says. &emsp;&emsp;He receives them by mail from all over the country and has a loyal fanbase of people who rely on his skilled work. &emsp;&emsp;Last year, the pandemic spurred the Fioreys to add another new offering to their repertoire. They joined a membership program called Harvest Hosts, which offers self-contained RVers the opportunity to stay overnight at more than 2,158 wineries, breweries, and farms across North America. &emsp;&emsp;"We thought: What the heck, we'll sign up for it," Fiorey says with a laugh, and in the end, he notes, it actually offset their COVID-related business losses in 2020. As a working farm, Crescendo Acres is an ideal destination for an RV to park for the night and soak in the surrounding beauty. &emsp;&emsp;Fiorey says it has been nice to meet new people who seem to revel in not only the company of the animals but also Surry's extraordinary views of the surrounding landscape. Whether dropping by during the day or staying for a night, visitors always find a warm welcome. &emsp;&emsp;"It's fun for us. We're just here, so people come and visit and have a good time and see the alpacas. They seem to be drawing card," Fiorey says. &emsp;&emsp;At the moment, he's busy cleaning and storing equipment after a so-so maple season (they made 92 of the 100 gallons they hoped for) and getting ready to plant 500 Christmas tree seedlings after a record sales year. &emsp;&emsp;"People were so tired of being cooped up. It was a holiday; it was a time to be happy and be family," Fiorey says. &emsp;&emsp;The farm offered a sweet bit of respite and normalcy. Now the owners are hopeful that the summer will also bring in visitors who are game to enjoy the great outdoors. Scenery, fishing, swimming, marathons & a charter school Surry is certainly a place where locals and tourists love to do just that, taking advantage of the beautiful Ashuelot River for fishing and Surry Mountain Lake for swimming, kayaking, grilling and gatherings. In years past, it has also been the unique setting for the Give Peace a Tri Triathlon, which many locals have traditionally participated in. &emsp;&emsp;"We actually have quite a triathlete community in the Keene area," says Shae Starrett, a local yoga therapist who participated in the triathlon three times. To prepare for the competition, she spent a great deal of time training at Surry Mountain Lake. &emsp;&emsp;"I think the best memory I have of it is those early morning swims where you just walk into the water and have that fog that's still rolling up," she says. Starrett also loved that she could leave the lake and ride her bike in nearly any direction to rack up some serious miles. &emsp;&emsp;To her, it's pretty special that such a resource lies just a few miles away. &emsp;&emsp;"I would say it could be considered a hidden gem of Keene, which is becoming a little more metropolitan," she notes. &emsp;&emsp;For its population of fewer than 700 people, Surry is one of those small-town escapes that define the Monadnock Region. One of its most active spots is the Reed Free Library, which according to Karyn Hagen, chairperson for the library's board of trustees, "opened in 1881 in the Town Hall. The collection consisted of 757 volumes … Our free-standing, brick library building was constructed in 1932." It's now home to about 7,500 titles. &emsp;&emsp;"Our library plays an important supporting role in the community," Hagen says. Though the pandemic has kept things mostly curbside in the last year, the library remains an essential part of town, offering adult reading groups, as well as a vibrant summer reading program for kids. &emsp;&emsp;Since 2006, Surry has also been home to the Surry Village Charter School, which was formed in response to the dwindling enrollment that resulted in the town's original school's closure. Founding community member and current director of Surry Village Charter, Matora Fiorey, was among the concerned group of parents who knew there needed to be an alternative. &emsp;&emsp;"It was a town without a school that had always supported local education. We wanted to help bring a school to the town and put the building to good use," she says. Fifteen years later, Surry Village Charter's elementary program remains in town, while the middle school classes have been moved to a campus in Keene. &emsp;&emsp;"We love having grades K-4 tucked in Surry. The playground is perfect for social-emotional growth and exploration. There are so many local resources (physical locations and people) within walking distance, and the natural beauty of Surry can't be beat," Fiorey says. &emsp;&emsp;Surry Village Charter continues to engage with the community with activities like an annual pancake breakfast. Fiorey says she hopes "having the school in town has helped to keep some of the traditions the town enjoyed when the Surry School was open." &emsp;&emsp;There is a deep sense of community that sets the school apart for the children who attend and their families. &emsp;&emsp;"Because the school is so small, our staff get to know all of the students, which makes school feel a bit like a family," Fiorey says. &emsp;&emsp;Parents pick up their children at the end of each day, interacting with one another, as well as the teachers. &emsp;&emsp;"Who knew that a lack of busing could be so important for community," Fiorey notes. &emsp;&emsp;The school's emphasis on project-based learning also often results in a greater sense of connection, as students deep dive into subjects and share their work with the broader community. &emsp;&emsp;This fall, Surry Village Charter School will be entering a new phase, with longtime leader, Carol Menck Keefe, becoming head of school and principal of the middle school program. A to-be-named principal will lead the elementary school. &emsp;&emsp;"I envision the school taking the education of its students to new heights as it transitions to a new leadership model in the fall. There are exciting times on the horizon," Fiorey says. Caroline Tremblay writes from Richmond, New Hampshire.