​HATBOX THEATRE ANNOUNCES OPEN AUDITIONS FOR ITS 2023-2024 SEASON
Open Auditions for all productions slated for the 2023-2024 Hatbox Theatre Season is just around the corner. Auditions will take place Sunday, April 30th and Wednesday May 3rd from 6:30 to 9pm. Performers of all ages and experiences are encouraged to participate. Stage managers, technicians, designers and production staff are encouraged to fill out the application and attend as well.
Please come prepared to perform two contrasting monologues. Each monologue should be less than two minutes in length. (While there will be no formal music portion, attendees may present a brief thirty-second a capella piece to give producers a taste of your capability.) If you are unable to attend in person, there is an option to submit a video audition in the application.
Open Auditions are coordinated by the Hatbox Theatre. Actors are encouraged to upload a recent headshot, a resume, and be prepared to present two short contrasting monologues. Producers may also be having their own separate auditions, but use Open Auditions as a way to recruit folks to their auditions/productions. 
Hatbox Theatre is a cooperative venue. Many different production companies use the space throughout the year, most of which are looking for actors, musicians, designers, and stage technicians for their productions. Producers this season will include: Absolutely Magic, Actors Coop Theatre (ACT), Custard Street Productions, Dive In Productions, Hatbox Theatre, Lend Me a Theater, Maundering Arts, New Hampton School, Outcast Productions, Parker Theatricals, Perseverance Productions, Phylloxera Productions, Queen City Improv, RGC Theatre, Shelley Productions, The Granite Playwrights, and Versicolor Souls.
With almost twenty mainstage productions, including plays, musicals, original works and a number of one-off opportunities such as improv, one acts, etc, producers are looking to work with talent of all shapes, sizes, and persuasions. Designers, Stage Managers, and Stage Technicians are encouraged to upload a resume/portfolio. This is a great opportunity to get your talent seen by dozens of production companies working not only at Hatbox Theatre, but also from around the state.
Go to hatboxnh.com and click on the “Call Board” link for more information and to sign up for one of the audition slots. CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE AUDITION APPLICATION. 
The titles of the 2023/2024 Hatbox Theatre season will be announced to the public at our Launch Party on May 17th. There is a variety of offerings including musicals, original plays, classic works, musicals and more. This event is open to our members and the public who are interested in getting a taste of our ninth season.
ABOUT HATBOX THEATRE: Hatbox Theatre is a live performance arts space with a mission to create a cooperative community to develop unique, intimate experiences for both audiences and artists.

​Conservation District taking applications for college scholarship to Merrimack County resident!

The Merrimack County Conservation District is taking applications for its “Stanley Grimes Conservation Scholarship” to be awarded June 2023. 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 college/university in the fall of 2023.   High school seniors and current college students encouraged to apply.  

Applications must be submitted by May 5, 2023. For a full description of the scholarship and the application, please visit the district website at merrimackccd.org, email info@merrimackccd.org, or call 603.223.6020.

The Annual Making Community Home Gala hosted by CATCH Neighborhood Housing is making a comeback to The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord, with Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) as the leading sponsor. The event supports CATCH’s commitment to assist those who are in need of housing through education and support resources.
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The Annual Making Community Home Gala event takes place on Thursday, March 23rd at 6:00pm. The Gala calls for business casual attire and will feature music, dinner, a cash bar, dancing, community building, and a marvelous time. For more information on the event, visit catchhousing.org/events.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to be included as a presenting sponsor for the Making Community Home Gala,” said James Gallagher, SVP Senior Commercial Lending Officer of The Merrimack and CATCH Board Chair. “This event unites the community for a fun night, in hopes of raising funds to encourage CATCH’s mission of creating communities where everyone can be confident about access to safe and affordable housing.”

“We’re delighted to have The Merrimack as the leading sponsor for our Annual Making Community Home Gala,” said Tom Furtado, President and Chief Executive Officer of CATCH. “The selflessness exhibited by our donors, and community partners is the driving force behind this organization.”

Founded more than 30 years ago, CATCH Neighborhood Housing is a community-based non-profit organization offering a full spectrum of housing and education services in Merrimack County. Since 1989, CATCH‘s rental portfolio has grown into a vast array of 379 affordable, workforce housing units in Concord, Penacook, Bow, and Franklin, New Hampshire. To provide homeownership and financial education services, CATCH has collaborated with HOMEteam, another organization The Merrimack proudly sponsors. For more information on CATCH, visit catchhousing.org.

The Community Players of Concord NH production of THE 39 STEPS, scheduled for
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 17-19, 2023, has been POSTPONED due to illness within the company.
If you have already purchased tickets, they will be valid during the February 24-26 show weekend for the SAME DAY OF THE WEEK and the same seat location - there is no need to exchange your tickets.  
If you wish to change your ticket to a different performance that weekend or if you would like to receive a refund, please email Box Office chair David Murdo at nhdm40@comcast.net or call him at (603) 344-4747.  
On behalf of THE 39 STEPS company and all of us here at The Community Players of Concord, NH, we thank you for your support of our 95th Season of bringing live theatre to the heart of the capital region and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause our valued patrons. 

The Merrimack Serves as Presenting Sponsor of SouperFest 2023
Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) is serving up support at the Annual SouperFest to benefit the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH). Warm up and enjoy the best soups Concord has to offer on Saturday, March 4th from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at The Bank of NH Stage on Main Street in Downtown Concord.
This year’s event will feature nearly a dozen different soups from local restaurants, for $5 each, and live music from the band, Rozwell. SouperFest is one of two main fundraisers for the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness.
“We’re grateful The Merrimack is returning as presenting sponsor of SouperFest,” said Greg Lessard, CCEH Director of Housing Initiatives and event organizer. “We had a great turnout last year and appreciate the community’s unwavering support to end homelessness.”
“We’re looking forward to SouperFest and seeing the community come together for a good cause,” said Linda Lorden, President of The Merrimack. “The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness provides invaluable services to our neighbors in need and we are proud to be one of their pillars of support.”
For more details on SouperFest and to view a complete list of the soups being donated by Concord area restaurants, visit concordhomeless.org/souperfest. The Merrimack is also a sponsor of Blues, Brews and BBQ which will take place on Saturday, September 30th at the Bank of NH Stage.
Established in 2008, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) was formed with one mission in mind, to end homelessness in the Greater Concord community. Since then, CCEH has launched a resource center to help meet immediate needs and multiple programs to provide safe, affordable, and stable housing. To learn more about CCEH, visit concordhomeless.org.
Merrimack Style is treating everyone – customers, employees and community members – with dignity, care, respect and compassion. Founded in 1867, The Merrimack has served the people, businesses, non-profits and municipalities in Central and Southern New Hampshire for 155 years. In 2022, The Merrimack was recognized as “best bank” by the Capital Area People’s Preferences or CAPPIE Awards for the 13th year in a row. Merrimack County Savings Bank is a mutual savings bank that benefits local depositors, borrowers, and surrounding communities instead of stockholders on Wall Street. To learn more, visit any of their local offices in Bow, Concord, Contoocook, Hooksett and Nashua, call 800.541.0006 or visit themerrimack.com.

​The Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, NH will be hosting its 17th year of our annual Pumpkin Patch with 1,000 pumpkins covering our front lawn.  Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes … for all your needs!  Bring your family, neighbors and friends … take pictures! Proceeds from the pumpkin sales will go to support Friends of Forgotten Children, New Hampshire Food Bank and Disaster Relief.
Pumpkin Patch hours from September 26 to October 31:
 
Weekdays:  2 – 6 pm
Saturdays:  10 am to 5 pm
Sundays:    12 noon to 5 pm
 
For info: contact:  603-224-0884 or visit our website  www.bowmillsumc.org 
See you in the Patch!

​Annie of Annie and the Orphans Final Performance to be at The Sandwich Fair
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Mark this date on your calendar to see Annie perform for the final time at The Sandwich Fair on Monday, October 10. The tradition of watching the musical group, Annie, and the Orphans, will be special this year. This is the LAST performance of the Orphans where Anatole ‘Annie’ Paquette will be performing. For the past 58 years, the group has traveled throughout New England and far beyond to entertain. You may have listened to their ‘rock and roll’ songs on the Mt. Washington boat, at weddings, and at towns’ celebatory events. The group will be performing on the stage at 12 Noon and 3 pm. 

If you are interested in learning of Annie’s life and how he fulfilled his passion for music by creating this musical group at 16 years old that continued for almost 60 years, use the following link https://youtu.be/8rIHlOj8vh8.

 As part of Avaloch Farm Music Institute’s community outreach program, a free concert has been scheduled for Wednesday August 24, 2022, at 6:30 pm at the United Church of Penacook.  The Ted Babcock Consort, a classical cross over ensemble of vibraphone, marimba, piano, guitar and bass, will perform.  Additional information about Ted Babcock can be found at https://tedbabcock.com  Directions to the church are available at www.ucpnh.org
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Wildland firefighters are currently working to contain a wildfire which may have been sparked by an illegal campfire situated in a remote section of Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham.

The fire’s location, near the Boulder Field area of the park, makes it difficult to get water to the site. In addition to the challenges for firefighters caused by current weather conditions – with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity – the fire is burning deep into the forest’s duff layer, forcing firefighters to dig deep in order to extinguish all embers.

The fire was reported Sunday afternoon after being spotted from the Pawtuckaway fire tower and is estimated to have started late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

Wildland firefighters from the N.H. Forest Protection Bureau, Nottingham Fire Department and mutual aid departments from surrounding towns are on scene. As of Tuesday morning, the fire is 2.4 acres and 50 percent contained.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Forest Ranger Abigail Nehiley from the N.H. Forest Protection Bureau at abigail.n.nehiley@dncr.nh.gov.

“Having a campfire, or any fire, without a permit and landowner permission is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire and the person who caused it is liable for damages and all expenses incurred to extinguish it,” said Captain Michael Matson of the N.H. Forest Protection Bureau. “With more than 85 percent of New Hampshire currently experiencing moderate drought, and the entire state classified as abnormally dry, illegal fires can be even more dangerous and destructive because it can take time to spot them and dispatch a wildfire suppression team to the scene to extinguish it.”

“To help protect our beautiful state’s natural resources for all to enjoy, it’s vitally important to make sure not only that it’s okay to have a campfire, but also that your fire is completely out before you leave it,” said Captain Matson. “That means drowning it with water, stirring the ash and using the back of your hand to feel for heat. If it’s still warm, there’s still hot burning material present that can cause a wildfire so you need to repeat the process until the site is totally cold.”

Wildland firefighters are also working to contain another wildfire which appears to have been caused by an abandoned illegal campfire in Hinsdale at Pisgah State Park. 

Anyone wishing to have a campfire or other category of fire in New Hampshire may obtain a burn permit at nhfirepermit.com.