Rundlett showing ‘Screenagers’
Are you watching kids scroll through life, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span? Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her own kids and learned that the average kid spends 6 ½ hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all this time and about the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time — friction she knew all too well.
In Screenagers, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Delaney takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction.
Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists and brain scientists, Screenagers reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.
On Thursday, Rundlett Middle School will host a parent and community screening of the film at 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Alex Dyment
Tickets going fast for Iron Chef
There are only a few tickets left for GoodLife Program’s third annual Iron Chef so make sure to reserve your seat at the hottest cooking competition in town!
Iron chef will be held April 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Tad’s Place at Havenwood Heritage Heights.
Two-time returning champion Jason Seavey from Havenwood Heritage Heights will compete against Mike Tate, Executive Chef at the Granite Restaurant & Bar, and Kevin McIntrye, Executive Chef at Pleasant View Retirement.
Tickets are $35, and include appetizers and two drink tickets. All proceeds benefit GoodLife Programs & Activities.
For more information, visit goodlifenh.org or call 228-6630
GoodLife Programs
Learn about Iraq at NHTI’s Wings
On April 4 at 6 p.m. in the Library Living Room, the NHTI Wings of Knowledge lecture series presents its annual “Culture in Many Societies” event for the 2016-17 academic year.
NHTI has over 600 foreign students, speaking over 60 different languages. Every April, Wings of Knowledge features one of those students as its guest speaker.
This year’s speaker, Anis Oveisi, was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1985. She studied composing and arranging music at the Conservatory of Tehran, and joined the progressive rock band Mavara in 2007 as a keyboard player. In 2013, Oveisi traveled to the United States for the release of the band’s new album, and to perform with Mavara on the east coast. She started paralegal studies at NHTI last spring
Oveisi will talk about her country and culture, her move to the U.S. and her projects and professional life here.
The final Wings of Knowledge event scheduled for the 2016-17 academic year will be April 25 when Jake St. Pierre, who was part of the American Climber Science Program expedition to Mt. Everest in April 2014, shares his experiences of the events of that fateful expedition.
Launched in 2001-02, Wings of Knowledge is an annual series of cultural events presented by the college. All events are free and open to the public. The series supports and expands upon NHTI’s wide variety of academic offerings, and is another element in the college’s expanding community college mission.
For further information call 230-4028 or visit nhti.edu/wings.
Doug Schwarz
Author talk at Gibson’s on Friday
Join Gibson’s Bookstore on Friday at 6 p.m. for a launch party as New Hampshire favorite David Elliott reworks the Greek myth of Theseus in Bull.
Much as Lin-Manuel Miranda did in Hamilton, New York Times best-selling author Elliott turns a classic on its head in form and approach, updating the timeless story of Theseus and the Minotaur for a new generation.
A rough, rowdy and darkly comedic young adult retelling in verse, Bull will have readers re-evaluating one of history’s most infamous monsters.
For more info, visit gibsonsbookstore.com/ event/bull.
Elisabeth Jewell
VNA seeking hospice volunteers
Concord Regional VNA is seeking volunteers to offer companionship and support to hospice patients. The next eight-week training session starts May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at Merrimack County Nursing Home, 325 Daniel Webster Highway in Boscawen.
Hospice volunteers assist with: Providing companionship to hospice patients; Reading to hospice patients; Holding a hand and lending a listening ear; Running errands for hospice patients; Cooking meals at the Hospice House; Providing pet therapy, music therapy and therapeutic arts; Giving Reiki, massage, or therapeutic touch; Assisting staff with office work; Facilitating grief support groups; And connecting as a veteran volunteer with patients who are also veterans.
Please call 224-4093 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 2826 or email lisa.challender@crvna.org by April 14 to learn more.
Andrew Morse
Cemetery clean-up begins April 3
Spring clean-up in all of the city’s cemeteries will begin on April 3. Please remove any holiday baskets or arrangements before this date if you wish to keep them.
Please note that artificial flowers are not allowed in city cemeteries from April 1-Nov. 1. In addition, lot owners are prohibited from planting their own shrubs. All shrub plantings must be coordinated through the Cemetery Office at Blossom Hill Cemetery, 225-3911.
Lastly, anyone walking a dog in the cemeteries is required to have it on a leash and to clean up after it.
City memo
Sunday concert at St. Paul’s School
On Sunday, the Keiser Concert Series of St. Paul’s School will present Peter Stoltzfus Berton, performing at the school’s regular Choral Evensong.
The concert, which will be held in the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul on the St. Paul’s School campus, will begin at 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Berton holds degrees in organ from the University of Michigan School of Music and the Yale University School of Music.
He is active as a composer (published by Oxford University Press), choral clinician, organ recitalist, recording producer, recording artist (pipeorgancds.org), and is a singing member of and organist for Mastersingers USA, a men’s touring ensemble. He is also associate organist of the Church of St. Peter Claver in West Hartford, and a regular accompanist for CitySingers of Hartford.
For more information, please call 229-4649, or visit sps.edu/keiser.
Lindsay Bolduc
Winter open house at NHTI April 4
See yourself on a new pathway at NHTI. Whether your path leads directly into a career, or to continuing education at a four-year college or university, envision the future you want – at NHTI.
Explore NHTI at our winter open house, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Wellness Center Gym. Learn about our 90 academic programs, tour our 240-acre campus and find out about campus life at NHTI. Meet current and former students, academic department heads and representatives from admissions and financial aid.
Contact the admissions office at 230-4011 or nhtiadm@ccsnh.edu for further information – or just come and join us! Open to all prospective students and their families.
Can’t make the open house? We have “Drop-in Tuesdays” weekly from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Get a 15-minute overview of the college and bring your questions for admissions and financial aid representatives. Campus tours available for those who arrive by 5:15 p.m. No reservations required.
You can also schedule a tour at your convenience at nhti.edu/sign-campus-tour.
Doug Schwarz
VNA seeking balance coaches
Concord Regional VNA is seeking volunteer coaches for “A Matter of Balance,” a falls prevention program that gives older adults the self-confidence to reduce their fear of falling and improve their activity levels. The training sessions will be held April 12 and 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Concord Regional VNA, The Slusser Center, 30 Pillsbury St.
“A Matter of Balance” helps older adults learn to manage falls by increasing their strength, finding ways to reduce falls and protecting themselves if they do fall. The evidence-based program uses recommendations from healthcare professionals, experiences of participants and exercise to help older adults prevent falls and conquer their fear of falling.
Volunteers coach two programs within one year of becoming certified and attend training updates annually. To learn more, call 230-5673 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 5673.
Andrew Morse
Coalition to offer scholarships
The N.H. Coalition to End Homelessness has announced that they are accepting applications for their 2017 Hope Starts Here Scholarship. The educational scholarship will be awarded to students currently living in New Hampshire who have experienced homelessness during their school career, have demonstrated academic achievement and have the desire to continue their education beyond high school.
The scholarship can be used to help defray the costs of college or post-secondary vocational training program tuition, fees, books, prep courses or other educational expenses. The deadline to apply is May 1.
In total up to $2,000 in educational scholarships will be awarded. The scholarship is funded through donations from individuals, as well as a one-to-one match from Bank of New Hampshire.
A committee representing educators, policy makers, homeless providers, businesses and other community members will review the applications and make recommendations to the NHCEH Board of Directors, who will make the final selection and notify the recipient(s) of the award.
To apply, students must complete the application and submit all required supplemental materials. The application and instructions can be downloaded at nhceh.org/scholarship.
For more information about donating to this scholarship fund, please visit nhceh.org/HopeStartsHere or contact the NHCEH at donate@nhceh.org or 641-9441, ext. 251.
Michele Talwani
Learn the tricks to buying a new car
New Hampshire Federal Credit Union is hosting a free workshop, Car Buying: Drive a Better Deal, on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m.
CEO, John Young, spent many years working in the auto industry before joined NHFCU in 1994. Young will offer beneficial insights into what happens at the dealership, so you will come away with a better understanding of how to negotiate and feel good about the final deal and what’s best for you, including: Leasing versus buying-advantages and disadvantages; Options for handling your “trade;” and tips for negotiating with confidence.
For more, visit nhfcu.org/interior.php/ pid/13/eid/212.
Insider staff
VNA bereavement group on April 4
Concord Regional VNA is offering a bereavement program Newly Bereaved Discussion Group on April 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Concord Regional VNA Hospice House, 240 Pleasant St. Groups are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the same time.
This session provides grief education and support for those who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. Registration is not required.
For more information, please call 224-4093 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 2828 or email carmella.dow@crvna.org.
Andrew Morse
Nonprofit awards at Capitol Center
The 2017 Nonprofit Impact Awards will be presented by the N.H. Center for Nonprofits on April 4 at the Capitol Center for the Arts to two individuals and two organizations to recognize the impact of the nonprofit sector in New Hampshire. The awards are presented each year to honor remarkable people and nonprofit organizations that have made outstanding contributions to their communities.
The New Hampshire Impact Award will be presented to Hal Jordan, former President and CEO of the Granite YMCA in honor of his work creating opportunities for youth and families to thrive.
The Board Impact Award will be presented to Mary Jo Brown, board chair of the N.H. Women’s Foundation to recognize her role guiding the organization through two successive mergers to build a single-statewide nonprofit focused on promoting opportunity and equality for women and girls.
The Nonprofit Impact Award will be presented to N.H. Community Loan Fund to recognize its significant impact leveraging resources that have enabled traditionally underserved people to participate more fully in New Hampshire’s economy.
New this year, the Healthy Community Impact Award will be awarded to Community Volunteer Transportation Company to recognize its impact providing transportation services in the Monadnock region.
Reserve your spot at the event by visiting nhnonprofits.org/impact. Cost is $50 for members, and $100 for not-yet-members.
Deborah Clark
