Quilters guild to hold monthly workshop Friday
The Capital Quilters Guild will meet at Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave. on Friday, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. All quilters and friends are welcome to attend. Our featured speaker will be Diana Annis, who will be doing a presentation on machine quilting. Her Friday night trunk show will demonstrate many different styles of quilting as well as her growth as a quilter. She will also introduce us to the world of judged quilts, including the pros and cons.
For guild information, call Evelyn at 224-6247.
Jean Donahue
Poetry Society of N.H. to meet at Gibson’s
The Poetry Society of N.H. is very pleased to welcome back Midge Goldberg as our sole feature at Gibson’s Bookstore on March 16. Goldberg’s reading starts at 7 p.m. and then there will be an open mic afterwards. Everyone is invited. Newcomers are encouraged.
The society meets at Gibson’s on the third Wednesday of every month.
Don Kimball
VNA to offer grief program for children March 19
Concord Regional VNA is offering a free grief program for children ages 5-18 and their families “Helping Hands, Healing Hearts” on Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Concord Boys & Girls Club, 55 Bradley St.
This program is for children and their families adjusting after the loss of a loved one. There are activities for all ages, including healing through music, movement and play, Make a commemorative “take home” craft, along with support and resources for the entire family. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
For more information or to register, call 224-4093 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 2828 or email Carmella.Dow@crvna.org.
Andrew Morse
Lenten Luncheon series continues Thursday
The Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., continues its Lenten Luncheon series on Thursday with the Rev. Lourey Savick, Pastor of Peterborough United Methodist Church and Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Bow Mills United Methodist Church. The luncheons are held from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $7 and tickets are available at the door.
Proceeds from the Lenten Luncheons will benefit Friends of Forgotten Children, a grassroots organization that helps meet the needs of families and individuals in Concord and surrounding communities.
Joan Day
R.P. Hale to perform at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Enjoy exciting music from the multi-talented R.P. Hale on the harpsichord and hammer-dulcimer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre St. on Monday, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Bring your bagged lunch and take a midday break to recharge in our beautiful sanctuary.
Sarah Nyhan
Wednesday’s Wisdom about spoon making
Wednesday’s Wisdom Pot Luck will be held at Kimball-Jenkins Estate, 266 N. Main St., on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
This month’s top is The Zen of Spoonmaking with Dan Dustin.
Wednesday Wisdom is held on the second Wednesday of each month. Our goal is to bring fascinating speakers to a diverse group of greater Concord residents. This is a pot luck and BYO (wine, beer or other drinks).
Pam Tarbell
Leadership Greater Concord seeks applicants
Leadership Greater Concord, a program of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce that fosters civic awareness in the greater Concord community, is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the 2016-17 program.
The program’s steering committee seeks to identify individuals with distinctive leadership potential and enhance their knowledge of the area by exposing them to issues, opportunities and problems facing the greater Concord community. The individuals who are selected for the 2016-17 Leadership class will begin work on the 10-month program in September, starting with a retreat and followed by a series of day-long work sessions from September through May and a graduation ceremony in June.
Each session focuses on a particular aspect of civic life in Concord, including history and culture, environment and sustainability, economic development, education, communications and the media, government and politics, criminal justice, health and human services and spirituality.
The application deadline is Friday, May 20 at 5 p.m. For more information about Leadership Greater Concord, please contact Valerie Blake at 224-2508. To download an application, please visit concordnhchamber.com.
Rebecca Kinhan
Stamp collectors to meet in Bow March 15
The Merrimack County Stamp Collectors will hold its monthly meeting at the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, on March 15 beginning at 1 p.m.
All who are interested in stamp collecting are welcome to attend. Meet other collectors and learn more about their hobby and varied interests in Philatelic resources and issues.
For more information, call Dan Day at 228-1154.
Dan Day
Alex Higgins space camp scholarship now open
Applications for the 2016 round of Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarships are now available on the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s website, starhop.com, and at the Discovery Center reception desk; applications are due to the Discovery Center on April 1. This competitive program is open to all New Hampshire residents ages 9 – 18, and covers full tuition, room and board at the U.S. Space and Rocketry Center in Huntsville, Ala. Transportation to Huntsville is not included.
The Space Camp Scholarship program is a joint initiative of the Discovery Center, the family of Alex Higgins and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Created in memory of Higgins, a young man from Bedford who thoroughly enjoyed his experience at Space Camp, the program offers a potentially life-changing opportunity for young Granite Staters. Since its inception, the Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship program has sent 47 New Hampshire youth to simulated astronaut or pilot training at the U.S. Space and Rocketry Camp; three additional applicants will be selected this year.
More information on the scholarship is available at starhop.com/education-and-exploration/programs/annual-events/space-camp-scholarships.aspx.
Jeanne Gerulskis
Pope Memorial SPCA to host summer camps
The Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord-Merrimack County is preparing for a busy summer filled with children and animals from the community. Back by popular demand, the Pope Memorial SPCA is getting ready to open their doors to dozens of summer campers, ranging in ages of 5 to 15, for week-long camps focused around the love of animals.
Pope Memorial SPCA day camps offer children the opportunity to develop a caring, compassionate and responsible awareness of animals in the community. Perfect for children who have a sincere interest in all animals, campers will dive into topics and activities that include proper pet care, safety around animals, responsible pet ownership and grooming and training techniques. Campers will meet special guests from the animal care field throughout the week, including some personal time with the furry, hairy and scaly animals who find their way to the SPCA.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of registration for the 2016 Summer Camp Program,” said Shannon Camara, Director of Educational Outreach at the Pope Memorial SPCA. “Due to last summer’s success, we have excitingly doubled the number of sessions being offered this year. The children in our community are the next generation of animal lovers and SPCA champions. The hands-on experience gained by all campers lends perfectly with the growing interest and involvement from our community’s youth.”
Designed for the interests of age-specific campers, the Pope Memorial SPCA is offering seven week-long sessions including ‘Camp LUV-A-Pet’ for 5- to 7-year-old campers, ‘Animal Advocates’ for those 8- to 12-year olds and ‘Animal Care Camp’ for the 13- to 15-year-old participants. Sessions are limited to a maximum of 12 campers on a rolling basis – SPCA staff are urging interested families to register as soon as possible to ensure their spots.
If interested in learning more or to register your child, visit the shelter located at 94 Silk Farm Road in Concord or visit popememorialspca.org for an application. All completed applications must be received no later than June 1.
Lori Taylor
Girls Technology Day at NHTI slated for March 15
On Tuesday, March 15, NHTI will proudly host the fourth annual Girls Technology Day (GTD), an initiative of the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Career Development Bureau. GTD has expanded over the years in response to overwhelming demand, and now takes place over a three-day period to accommodate 800 participants. NHTI is hosting the opening day of the event, followed by UNH-Durham on March 17 and Manchester Community College on March 18.
In New Hampshire, and across the country, there is a severe shortage of women pursuing technical careers. The New Hampshire Department of Education’s Career Development Bureau, in collaboration with the New Hampshire High Tech Council, launched Girls Technology Day in an effort to combat this problem. They decided to focus on grades 9 and 10, because that is the age at which many young people begin focusing on interests that may ultimately become career paths. Paradoxically, it is also the age at which girls often seem to get “turned off” to math, science and technology.
Participants in this year’s event will hear from keynote speakers including Jeopardy winner Kerry Greene (NHTI), Georgia Harris of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (UNH), and WMUR meteorologist Hayley LaPointe (MCC). The rest of the day will consist of a series of hands-on workshops exploring various high technology topics, including game programming, 3D modeling, app development for mobile devices, contaminated groundwater remediation – engineering solutions, and metrology – the science of measurement applications development
Workshops will be led by educators and industry leaders from the local community. During their lunch break, students will also have the opportunity to attend a vendor fair, where they can learn about college options, career opportunities and see more technology at work.
To learn more about Girls Technology Days 2016, please visit nhgirlstechnologyday.com or contact Courtney Ritchings at Courtney.Ritchings@doe.nh.gov or Jennifer Kiley at Jennifer.Kiley@doe.nh.gov.
Doug Schwarz
Collaborative program at HealthSouth March 15
In recognition of National Patient Safety Week, you are invited to attend Safer Transitions through Patient and Family Engagement, a special collaborative program on March 15 at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, 254 Pleasant St. at 5:30 p.m.
Join us to learn more about the importance of patient and family engagement with healthcare providers along the continuum of care. This event is designed to be a collaborative program featuring area providers including Concord Hospital, Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Concord. The discussion will include a case study review of the journey through the continuum for a stroke survivor and their family. Moderated by Tanya Lord, PhD, MPH, Director of Patient and Family Engagement, Foundations for Healthy Communities.
RSVP by March 11 to jessalynn.geerdes@healthsouth.com or call 226-9812.
Jessalynn Geerdes
Concord Parks & Rec is ready for spring sports
This unseasonably warm weather has Concord Parks & Recreation thinking spring. It won’t be long before the fields are lined, tennis nets are up and spring sports have begun.
Concord Parks & Recreation has something to offer for everyone to get out and enjoy spring. Starting March 12, we have our spring basketball league held at Green Street Community Center. Join us on Saturday mornings for Hot Shots (4-6 years old) and Jumpers (1st and 2nd grade), and new this year, we are offering a Division II (3rd & 4th grade) spring league. Teams will practice one evening a week and then participate in games on Saturday afternoons between noon and 4 p.m.
Beginning in May, we have youth and adult tennis leagues, NFL Flag Football for ages 6-14 years old and spring soccer for kids 4 years old through sixth grade.
Tennis lessons and leagues are run by Pattu Pillai, USPTR. Spring lessons and leagues are held at Merrill Park. Youth tennis lessons are available for kids 8 to 13 years old. The 8- to 10-year-old program is designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing special equipment, short court dimensions and modified scoring in an exciting learning format. For the 11- to 13-year-old program, players will transition to full court and learn proper grips, stances, service, scoring and fore/back hand.
NFL Flag Football was first introduced by Concord Parks & Recreation in spring 2015 and was a great success. This league is for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 and is designed to provide them with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of football while playing in a safe environment. Teams meet once a week for a 20-minute practice and 40-minute game at Merrill Park. All players receive an NFL jersey and set of flags.
Spring soccer is another great way to get out and stay active this spring. We offer Soccer Fundamentals for 4- to 6-year-olds, Division I for first and second grade and new this spring, we are offering co-ed soccer clinics run by Derek Johnson for third- through sixth-graders. Johnson is the head girls’ soccer coach at St. Paul’s School and has more than 20 years coaching experience to offer your developing soccer player. All spring soccer programs are held at Keach Park.
Registration for all programs is now open. Don’t hesitate to register, spaces are limited.
For more information on any of these programs or to register, please visit concordparksandrec.com.
Laura Bryant
Conservation district’s scholarship available
The Merrimack County Conservation District is taking applications for its “Stanley Grimes Conservation Scholarship” to be awarded in June. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a resident in Merrimack County who has been accepted to a two- or four-year college/university (full time status) with the intent to pursue studies in the field of agriculture, forestry, environmental science, soil science or a related natural resources program. Applicant must be attending the accepted college/university in the fall of 2016.
Applications must be submitted by May 6. For a full description of the scholarship and the application, please contact the conservation district at info@merrimackccd.org or visit the district website at merrimackccd.org.
Rebecca Yohe
Learn to decorate eggs using Ukranian method
Come decorate real eggs using an ancient Ukrainian method of dyes and wax on March 16 and 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Concord High School Room W2093.
Learn the art as well as the traditions behind these colorful creations that celebrate spring, new life and hope.
Kathleen Vincent
Nominations sought for Audubon awards
New Hampshire Audubon’s Board of Trustees seeks nominations for the Tudor Richards and Goodhue-Elkins awards to be presented at the annual meeting of the membership. Deadline for nominations is April 1.
The Tudor Richards Award is presented annually to the person who best exemplifies Richards’s love and knowledge of the outdoors and who has worked tirelessly and effectively on behalf of conservation in New Hampshire. Past recipients include Jane Doherty (2015), Eric Orff (2014) and Francie Von Mertens (2013).
The Goodhue-Elkins Award is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the study of New Hampshire birds. The award is named for Charles Goodhue, one of the state’s great pioneer birders, and Kimball Elkins, the model of critical observation and insightful record-keeping. Past recipients include David Donsker (2015), Robert Fox and Allan Keith (2014) and Susan Fogleman (2013). Both awards are merit-based and affiliation with New Hampshire Audubon is not a requirement.
For a list of past recipients and nomination forms, please visit nhaudubon.org/about/annual-awards or contact Rebecca Suomala at 224-9909 ext. 309 or rsuomala@nhaudubon.org. Please be sure to include your mailing address on the nomination form.
Craig Holmes
Fundraising ongoing for Winant statue and plaza
The final phase of fundraising for a statue and plaza to memorialize governor and ambassador John Gilbert Winant has begun.
Initial efforts focused primarily on raising funds for a bronze statue of Winant inviting passersby to sit on a park bench and spend some time with him. $165,000 in donations and pledges, ranging from $10 to $50,000, were raised for creation of the statue and long-range planning for the project.
The final fundraising push will focus on the plaza that will surround the statue. It will be ADA accessible and include granite panels describing Winant’s accomplishments, a 1930s-style lamppost and landscaping. An additional $100,000 is needed to complete this phase of the project.
The memorial will be located in front of the New Hampshire State Library at 20 Park St. in Concord.
Winant, whose many roles included governor of New Hampshire and ambassador to Great Britain during World War II, was known for his kindness to people from all walks of life. A Depression-era governor, Winant quietly gave 50-cent pieces to homeless people in Concord, allowing them to buy a hot meal and a place to stay for the night.
Prior to serving as governor, Winant was elected to both the N.H. House of Representatives and the N.H. Senate. A graduate of St. Paul’s School, he was a decorated pilot in World War I, served as the first director of the Social Security Administration and led the International Labor Organization.
For more information about the Winant statue, including how to contribute, visit winantmemorial.org.
Shelly Angers
Watch for road load limit signs posted this week
The city of Concord will be posting road load limits early this year due to the warmer winter season. Concord General Services’ sign crew began posting roads throughout Concord on Monday. The “No Trucking – Load Limit 9 Tons” signs will be posted to maintain road conditions during the spring thaw, which occurs when temperatures fluctuate and ice melts underneath the asphalt (forming frost heaves in the winter). During the spring thaw, roads contract back down; causing cracks and breaks in the pavement. This weakens the road structure and eventually potholes can form. Road damage conditions are directly linked to the amount of weight placed on a road and how often a road is used. Posting road weight restrictions during the spring thaw prevents heavy equipment vehicles from creating excess road damage.
Permits are not provided for spring load limits, but drivers can request for travel permissions for one to two loads before noon by calling 228-2737.
The load limit postings will continue as required, depending on the weather and road conditions, but will likely be enforced until April.
Visit concordnh.gov/springoperations for more information and a list and map of posted roads.
Angelina Bossone
Bach’s Lunch series continues with concert
The Bach’s Lunch series at the Concord Community Music School continues on Thursday with “Side By Side: Broadway Duos,” a concert featuring Sophie Shaw, soprano, Ellen Nordstrom, mezzo-soprano, and Kathryn Southworth, piano.
The concert begins at 12:10 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Bring your lunch!
For more information, call 228-1196 or visit ccmusicschool.org.
Liz Faiella
Author to discuss topic of death at Gibson’s
Steve Gordon visits Gibson’s Bookstore on March 17 to share Let’s Talk about Death: Asking the Questions That Profoundly Change the Way We Live and Die.
Experts in end-of-life care tell us that we should talk about death and dying with relatives and friends, but how do we get such conversations off the ground in a society that historically has avoided the topic? This book provides one example of such a conversation. The coauthors take up challenging questions about pain, caregiving, grief and what comes after death. Their unlikely collaboration is itself connected to death: the murders of two of Irene Kacandes’s closest friends and Gordon’s support in perpetuating memories of those friends’ lives and not just their violent ends.
Honest, probing, sensitive, and even humorous at times, the completely open discussions in this book will help readers deal with a topic that most of us try to avoid but that everyone will face eventually.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Elisabeth Jewell
