Breaking News

Help needed for tens of thousands impacted in active hurricane, wildfire seasons 

CONCORD, N.H. –  The Northern New England Region of the American Red Cross continues to deploy volunteers to large-scale disasters around the country. Faced with wildfires, hurricanes and other disasters, the humanitarian organization needs additional volunteers to help people in urgent need. 

For the past several weeks, the Red Cross has been helping tens of thousands of people whose lives have been uprooted by the Midwest Derecho, the relentless wildfires in the West, Hurricane Laura and catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Sally.

Bill Sitz of Sandwich, N.H., is among the more than 5,000 Red Crossers who have supported disaster relief efforts on the ground or virtually since Aug. 19.

A seasoned disaster responder, Sitz recently returned home after a deployment where he served as a shelter supervisor in New Orleans for Hurricane Laura survivors.

​BUDGET BLINDS ADDS SHOWROOM IN CONCORD
121 Loudon Road, Concord NH 03301
603-369-6597

Showroom is open Tuesday thru Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and other times by appointment

Public ice skating returned on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Skating hours will be Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday hours will start October 10th. Admission is $6 for ages 14 and up and $5 for ages 13 and below (kids ages 3 and under are free). Skate rentals will be available in the pro shop for $5. Skate rentals and skate aide walkers (limited supply) will be thoroughly disinfected after each use upon returning to the Pro Shop. Public skating will be reduced to 50% capacity at this time. Only one parent / guardian (no siblings) will be allowed to spectate to accompany a child. Families can only come to open skate if they are all skating on the ice. Masks / facial coverings will be required while inside the building (not required while on the ice, but must be worn again when leaving the ice). Please follow signage when entering and exiting the ice during public skate as all skaters must skate in the same direction. View our 2020 Public Ice Skating Flyer. 

​Holderness, NH – Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is holding a Raptor Migration Celebration on Saturday, September 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the last trail admission at 2:30 p.m. This event is appropriate for all ages and will celebrate the amazing journey that some raptors embark upon during this season of transition as they move to wintering grounds.   

Raptor migration has long fascinated people. How do they know where to go? How do they cope with bad weather? How do they know where to stop? The Raptor Celebration will showcase migratory raptors at Pop Up Animal Encounters along the live animal exhibit trail. Visitors will learn about where New Hampshire’s raptor species go each winter, how long it takes them to get there, and why they bother to return each spring. 

Join Squam Lakes Natural Science Center for this fun event on Saturday, September 12. All Raptor Migration Celebration activities are included with trail admission. Trail admission is $15 for adults and seniors, $10 for youth ages 3 to 15, free for children 2 and under, and free for members. Advance reservations are required and are available at nhnature.org. Face masks are required for all visitors ages 3 and up. More information about planning a visit is at nhnature.org/reopen. 

 

NHTrust has signed on to sponsor the Concord Hospital Trust Evening en Rose Party with a Purpose fundraiser, running from August 27-September 7. Evening en Rose is an opportunity to host two to twenty friends and family in the safety of one’s home with a Concord Hospital Trust fun and unique party package. Funds raised from this event will support Concord Hospital’s Breast Care Genetic Counseling Program.

“We are very grateful to NHTrust and their continued generosity of Concord Hospital Trust and the Concord Hospital Breast Care Center,” said Susan Chase, Senior Philanthropy Officer for Concord Hospital Trust. “Having the ability to have a program in Concord if you’re at high risk for developing cancer can be life-saving. The genetic counseling program identifies and offers patients the ability to work with healthcare providers to take proper steps for increased surveillance and risk reduction.” 

“We’re happy to do all we can to contribute to this vital community asset,” said Paul Provost, President of NHTrust. “We are lucky to have the caliber of hospital we have in Concord Hospital and this kind of specialty program, along with all their other services, is critical to the health and well-being of our local community.”

Participants can pick the time and location that they wish to host their party. These personal parties can be a brunch, a late-night dinner, a picnic, or whatever helps beat the pandemic blues. Supporters choose from several at-home party packages created specifically for this event that include opportunities to unlock special simulated affairs such as a wine tasting with the Martignetti Companies, backyard dinner ideas and a garden and she-shed tour with Barbara Jobin, meal kits by Local Baskit and a concert with Boston band, Legends of Summer.

Founded in 1946 from a merger between the Margaret Pillsbury General Hospital and the Memorial Hospital for Women and Children, Concord Hospital is a non-profit, charitable organization which exists to meet the health needs of individuals within the communities they serve. As a regional health system, their five centers of excellence include: Center for Cardiac Care, Center for Urologic Care, Payson Center for Cancer Care, the Orthopedic Institute and Women’s Health Services. Concord Hospital Trust serves as the philanthropic arm of Concord Hospital. For more information, visit concordhospital.org.

Whether you’re saving for retirement, planning your estate, managing institutional funds or investing for a personal goal, NHTrust can help. Their team of professional advisors provides customized financial strategies that will help you build wealth and provide future income. Backed by three of New Hampshire’s oldest and strongest community banks, NHTrust is committed to exceptional service and support— for our customers and our communities.  For more information, please call 603.223.2710 or visit nhtrust.com.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Join us Tuesday, August 18th!
We encourage any parents of the district (regardless of whether you have a loved one receiving
special education services), Faculty, Administrators, and High School Students to join us.
When?
Every third Tuesday
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Where? Online via
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85060976919
Meeting ID: 850 6097 6919
What to expect: Our next meeting will be focused on options available to parents for the
reopening of school in the fall, opportunities for parents to provide their perspective on a
variety of topics and resources for parents new to the special educations system.
Vision:
To be a collaborative voice so that each Merrimack Valley student has the opportunities for
optimal growth
Mission:
MV SEPAC connects families and schools, influences policies and practices in order to promote
success for all students.

​Ragged Mt. Band to Offer 
August 2 'Zoom Concert 
 
In place of the Andover-based summer events (July 4 Celebration, Old Time Fair) canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Andover Historical Society will present a free concert by Lindsey Schust and the Ragged Mt. Band, a local group that performs original material and a mixture of traditional Americana, folk, country western, bluegrass and folk rock plus special guests
 
To begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2,  the concert will be delivered "live" via the internet to local homes via an easy-to-use technology called Zoom.  There it can be viewed on home computers and hand-held devices.  Up to 100 households can reserve  a "seat" in advance by sending an email request  to Treasurer@AndoverHistory.org.
 
Now in its tenth year, the Ragged Mt. Band includes, besides Lindsey Schust on keyboards,  other members of the Schust family (Grace, Jim and Jesse) plus occasional friends.  Their signature song "Hippie Hill" can be heard on the group's website https://lindseyschustraggedmtband.com/

 Ladies and Gentlemen, the Craftsmen have opened their Fair! 

Join us today and all week-long to shop one-of-a-kind craft, watch LIVE demonstrations, tour the studios of your favorite craftsmen, and participate in one of the oldest craft fairs in the country—all from the comfort of your home! 

​"Even through these tough times, nothing is going to stop the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair." Listen to Governor Sununu (and his son Leo) with juried League members Michael Updike, Alex Kalish, Dan Dustin, and Shana Brautigam signal the opening of the 87th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair. "Let it begin!"

Dear Friends of the Audi...and Friends of Friends of the Audi (please
forward this to people who might like to attend with you!):

Please mark your calendars, find a lawn chair and umbrella, and plan to
attend the Friends of the Audi Annual Meeting on Sunday, August 2nd at
4:00 pm in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the Audi. We will
hold this meeting rain or shine -- and promise to keep it short and
sweet. We'll celebrate this year's Friend of the Year and Golden
Pineapple AWARD recipients, too!

Looking forward to seeing you!

All my best,

Cathy Kaplan, President