​Annual Loon Census and Loon Festival to be Held on July 16th
MOULTONBOROUGH—The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) will conduct its Annual Loon Census on July 16th from 8:00–9:00 AM. During that hour, LPC staff and volunteers throughout the state will take to the lakes to count loons. Following the Loon Census, the Loon Preservation Committee will be hosting its Annual Loon Festival from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM at The Loon Center in Moultonborough. In honor of these events, the New Hampshire senate has declared July 16th Loon Appreciation day.
“The Loon Census is a valuable part of our annual data collection,” said LPC biologist, Caroline Hughes. “It helps us to get a good count of the number of paired, as well as unpaired, adult loons and loon chicks that are present in our state.”  Unpaired adult loons are those that do not develop a bond with a mate and defend a territory in a given year. Because they are not tied to a particular lake, they may spend time on many lakes, making it more difficult for biologists to get an accurate count during their surveys.
 
“During the census, we have hundreds of volunteers surveying hundreds of water bodies at the exact same time, which helps us to get a snapshot in time of our loon population and nail down exactly how many of those unpaired adults we have in the state,” Hughes said. The Loon Census also helps LPC to monitor the progress of known loon nests, discover previously unknown nests, check on the survival of chicks that have hatched in the previous weeks, and detect new loon chicks that may have hatched since biologists last surveyed a given water body. Census results are incorporated into LPC’s summer-long monitoring, the results of which will be given in an end-of-season presentation livestreamed on the organization’s YouTube channel on August 26th.
 
New Hampshire’s Loon Census is part of a much larger regional effort—at the same time that biologists and volunteers are setting out on New Hampshire lakes, counterparts in Maine, Vermont, and New York will be out doing the same. Those who would like to take part in the New Hampshire segment of this region-wide effort to count loons should contact the Loon Preservation Committee at (603)476-5666 for more information.
 
After the Loon Census, the 43rd Annual Loon Festival will be held at the Loon Center in Moultonborough from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. The Loon Festival is a family friendly event that will feature loon presentations given by LPC biologists, face painting, balloon animals, loon themed crafts and games for kids, a Discovery Table and live animals from the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, a fun and educational display about lake ecosystems from the NH Lakes Association, and a dunk tank where a correctly-answered loon trivia question will earn participants a chance to dunk a biologist.
For over 46 years the Loon Preservation Committee has worked to preserve the Common Loon and its habitat in New Hampshire through research, education and management activities. Come learn about these marvelous and mysterious birds and how you can help protect them.
To reach the Loon Center from Route 25 in Moultonborough turn onto Blake Road at the Moultonborough Central School. Follow Blake Road one mile to the end at Lee’s Mills Road. Turn right and the Loon Center is the first building on the left, #183. For further information call (603) 476-5666 or email info@loon.org.

​A public reading of one of the 19th century’s most famous speeches will take place at noon on July 1st at the Warner Town Hall, 5 East Main Street.
 
“What to the Slaves is the Fourth of July?” asked Frederick Douglass in 1852.
 
Douglass, one of our nation’s greatest orators and abolitionists, was asked to speak at an event in commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
 
In his provocative speech, Douglass said, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” And he asked, “Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?”
 
Douglass’s speech remains emotionally powerful and thought-provoking more than a century and a half after he gave it.
 
People of all ages and different walks of life have been asked to gather at noon at the Warner Town Hall to take turns reading parts of the speech until the entire speech has been read.  There is a section that we will all read together.  Please come to listen if you would rather not read.
 
Community leaders around the country participate in these readings—people such as town officials, teachers and activists, the police and fire chiefs, and heads of key organizations come together with ordinary neighborhood folk.
 
Reading Frederick Douglass causes us to think in new ways about our nation’s history, affords opportunities to open discourse about race relations and citizenship, and raises awareness of the role slavery and race continue to play in our history and national discourse.
 
Libraries, churches, historical societies, community service groups, social justice organizations, and schools are encouraged to participate in the reading.
 
This free public event is a program of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in collaboration with the Warner Historical Society, churches, community organizations and other historical societies around the state.

If you would like to read a portion of Douglass’ speech, please email the Warner Historical Society office: info@warnerhistorical.org

​Business Grants for Teachers
CONCORD, NH (June 2022) - Each year, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce awards grants to local teachers who have developed innovative programs in Capital Region schools. The Chamber is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year.   
                Teachers who apply must demonstrate how their projects fit a specific educational need, are unique to their respective schools and are not supported by the school system’s annual budget. These grants allow local students to delve into unique projects, learn new skills and pursue subjects that are not included in standard curriculum.
                In 2021-2022, these grant-funded projects focused on science, engineering, history, writing and arts. At Concord High School, the “We are America” literary project let students dive into history and personal storytelling. At Bow High School, students collected data on a local salamander population. At Bow Memorial School, a display area was created for student artworks and a therapeutic sensory space was built for students with autism and other developmental and cognitive challenges. At Abbot-Downing School, students put engineering and geometry skills to use with 3D printers.
                Teachers may learn more and apply by Friday, July 1 at concordnhchamber.com/business-grants-for-teachers. The Chamber’s Business and Education initiative has awarded over $161,000 in grants to local educators. Funding for this initiative is provided by the Funds for Education Golf Tournament, which will be held on Wednesday, August 3 at Beaver Meadow Golf Course. Learn more about this annual event at concordnhchamber.com/golftournament.

​Hatch Imminent on Loon Preservation Committee’s Live Loon Cam
Loon Chicks Hatching Throughout New Hampshire
 
MOULTONBORUGH—Loon chicks are expected to hatch shortly on the Loon Preservation Committee’s (LPC) live loon cam. The Loon Cam, which is in its ninth year of operation, offers an up-close and intimate view of a pair of loons in the lakes region of New Hampshire as they incubate their eggs and hatch their chicks. “The first egg was laid on May 28th,” said LPC Senior Biologist and Executive Director, Harry Vogel. “Loon incubation typically lasts 27–29 days, so if all goes well, they should be hatching between June 24th and 26th.” The first chick tends to hatch 12-24 hours before the second. Because of this, the loons will likely stick around their nest site for some time with the first chick as they wait for the second egg to hatch. “The time period between the first and second hatch is always exciting,” says LPC volunteer and Loon Cam Operator, Bill Gassman. “We have an incredible view and get to watch as the loons bond with their first chick.  It takes its first swim, is fed its first meal, and spends time swimming with its parents and riding on their backs.” Those interested in viewing the Loon Cam can do so at loon.org/looncam.
The first week of July is peak hatching time for New Hampshire loons. Chicks will be hatching throughout the state over the next several weeks.  The Loon Preservation Committee requests that boaters keep an eye out for loons on the water, especially if they have chicks, and give them plenty of space—at least 150 feet, and more if the loons show signs of being bothered by a boat’s proximity. This applies not just to motor boats and jet skis, but also to self-powered vessels including canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards. Loons will perform behaviors ranging from swimming away to vocalizing or ‘penguin dancing’—rearing up in the water and paddling hard to expose their bellies—if stressed by the presence of a boat. Any of these behaviors are indicators that a loon needs to be given more space. A guide to interpreting loon behaviors can be found at https://www.loon.org/behaviorguide.  
“While an adult loon can dive to avoid being hit by a rapidly approaching boat or jetski, chicks are more buoyant and less able to escape,” said Vogel. He also noted that it’s not just motor boats and jet skis that can harm loon chicks. “Any boat, motorized or self-powered, can distract loons from properly caring for their chicks if it gets too close. As the adult loons focus on the potential threat, they lose valuable time that should be spent feeding their chicks or keeping an eye out for predators.”
The Loon Preservation Committee monitors loons throughout the state as part of its mission to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons in New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.    

​THE BALD SOPRANO COMES TO THE HATBOX
The Community Players of Concord presents “The Bald Soprano” at the Hatbox Theatre in Concord from June 17 through June 26.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Tickets may be reserved by calling 603-715-2315 or purchased online at www.hatboxnh.com.
"I started writing for the theatre because I hated it.” – Eugene Ionesco, author of “The Bald Soprano”.
In The Bald Soprano, a clock chimes seventeen times for seemingly no reason, the doorbell rings but there are no visitors, and the Bald Soprano never changes her hairstyle. Inspired by the cliché dialogues in an English phrasebook for beginners, Eugène Ionesco rejected the coherent plot, character development, and concept of realistic drama, instead creating his own nihilistic form of comedy to convey the tragedy of language in a universe ruled by chance.  As a testament to the play's unique appeal and continuing relevance in an electronically dependent society that is developing its own instant message language of emoticons and anagrams, The Bald Soprano has been performing continually at the Theatre de la Huchette in Paris since 1957 — a world-record run.  A hilarious satire on the futility of meaningful communication in contemporary society, this is a theatre experience in which non-sequiturs fly, people talk at cross-purposes getting nowhere, and the concept of time is turned on its head. This thought-provoking tour-de-force of linguistic acrobatics is sure to delight.
“The Bald Soprano (trans. Allen)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. — www.concordtheatricals.com.
ABOUT HATBOX THEATRE: Hatbox Theatre is a dynamic live performance arts space with a mission to service and foster a cooperative community to develop unique, intimate experiences for audiences and artists. Hatbox Theatre is located at the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord, NH.

​Annual Arts Fest at Twiggs Gallery

Boscawen, NH (June 13, 2022) –  Fun & Fiber is the theme for many of the activities taking place at Twiggs Gallery’s second annual Arts Fest on Saturday, June 25 from 10-4 pm at 254 King Street in Boscawen. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, June 26 from 10-4 pm. 

The Arts Fest Art Fair features local New Hampshire artists. All day long, Cheryl Miller will be demonstrating rug hooking while Marilyn Matthews and Elaine Clow will show how to spin yarn. The art fair showcases; textile artist Cheryl Miller who makes fiber collages using hand dyed fabrics stitched by machine; artisan Diane Louise Paul and her beautiful leather goods including belts, sleigh bell straps, dog collars and leashes, bracelets, and more; jeweler Jo Shields’ organic sculptural jewelry based on her love of nature and plant forms; Marilyn Martin and Elaine Clow’s hand-spun yarns; glass artist Keira Chin’s whimsical beach glass scenes; fused glass artist Karen Mehos’ colorful ornaments, night lights, votive holders, platters and large bowls; artist Monica Cote’s lovely landscape paintings; and Jen Libby’s hand-crafted soaps and ceramics. 

Stop inside the gallery to see Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition featuring artists working with fiber in unique ways. Embellish a mini sheep to make into a pin to take home for the free Make & Take, sign up for the gift basket raffle from Spriggs Shoppe, and enjoy some light refreshments while browsing Sprigg’s Shoppe’s 25% off sale. From 1-3 pm, WOOL fiber artist Lisa Almeida will be offering a tapestry weaving demonstration and selling her small affordable artworks.

Twiggs Gallery will launch BAAcawen’s Flashy Flock Community Art Project for Old Home Week. Under the Twiggs Gallery tent, help decorate a Flashy Flock “Black Sheep” with fun and fancy Zentangle patterns. Thirty reserved sheep cut-outs will be displayed on the lawn for pick-up by Boscawen residents to take home and embellish. Expect to see a “flash mob” of artsy sheep displayed all around town during Boscawen’s Old Home Week late in August.  

All day long, Twiggs Gallery will be taking free-will donations for their neighbor, the Boscawen Food Pantry. The food pantry is an important part of the Boscawen community and in the past year has given out over 42,000 meals. A collection bin will be available at the fair for canned and dry good donations. Contributions large and small are appreciated!  

All of these festivities will take place at Twiggs Gallery which offers regional art exhibitions and adult art classes. Also located at Twiggs are fun gifts and uniquities in Spriggs Shoppe along with Cornerstone Design’s calligraphy services. Twiggs Gallery is handicapped accessible and located at 254 King Street, Jct. Rte 3 & 4, Boscawen, NH.  Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday 11-4 and Sunday 12-4. For more information visit TwiggsGallery.WordPress.com  or call 603-975-0015

Announcing June Activities: Local, Affordable, and Educational for All Ages

CANTERBURY, NH---June offers several new opportunities for adults and families at Petals in the Pines. Special ways to explore and enjoy the lush green growth, bright flowers, and buzzing activity include:
Pollinator Workshops (June 18, 19, 20; Pre-Registration Required)
Our pollinators are on the decline, and we all need to be concerned. One out of every three bites of food we eat, and over 80% of all plants, require the work of a pollinator. A lack of pollinators has reduced songbird populations, and negatively impacts biodiversity everywhere. We are celebrating National Pollinator Week with a hands-on outdoor workshop where gardeners, homeowners, and landowners can learn how to help these amazing creatures. Workshop fees, learning summary, registration, and additional details at https://petalsinthepines.com/pollinator-workshops

"Spread Your Wings" Days (Pre-Registration Required)
During "SYW" days (most Thursdays) we open our Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom for discovery time and unstructured play. Kids make use of our Arbor Day-certified play areas: to build a fort in the Mossy Messy Area, create a nature craft at the Indian Paintbrush Nature Art Area, water vegetables or look for worms in the Peter Rabbit Garden, or dress up like a fairy or gnome. We let the kids take the lead by doing what interests them the most--we'll provide a safe and nurturing environment. Costs, dates/times, additional details, and registration link at https://petalsinthepines.com/spread-your-wings

​"Tale Trail"Stories will come to life for kids as they walk our trails and read, or have read to them, pages from nature books. “Pitter and Patter” is the book selection for our first “Tale Trail” of the season. This delightful story follows two raindrops as they fall from the sky and land in different places, go through the water cycle, and take different paths, meeting interesting animals along the way. This book ties in with the NH State Public Library summer reading program theme, "Oceans of Possibilities." Costs, info on Free library passes, and additional details at https://petalsinthepines.com/tale-trails

Since 2010 Petals in the Pines, an Arbor Day-certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom and sustainable-practices flower farm, has enabled children of all ages to experience nature in a safe and nurturing environment; and has encouraged and educated adults in their personal exploration of the natural world that surrounds them. Open 9am-6pm daily until Columbus Day.

The Cartells bring their musical prowess and vocal harmonies to downtown Concord for a night of pop, rock, jazz, Motown, and swing.  The band covers everyone from Elvis to Norah Jones. 
Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 5:00 PM 
Free
Downtown Concord (part of Intown Concord’s Market Days)
For a complete season schedule, visit www.walkerlecture.org

​The Walker Lecture Series invites you to join us for
Studio Two
Studio Two pays tribute to the early Beatles years with the Fab Four’s music, appearance, instruments, and onstage banter. 
Friday, June 24, 2022, at 5:15 PM 
Downtown Concord (part of Intown Concord’s Market Days)
Free
For a complete season schedule, visit www.walkerlecture.org

​The Merrimack Announces the Recipients of the William H. Hilton Award and Robert E. Boucher Scholarship

Merrimack County Savings Bank (the Merrimack) is pleased to announce the recipients of the William H. Hilton Community Service Award and the Dr. Robert E. Boucher Memorial Scholarship. As the school year comes to a close, the scholarships will help financially assist the graduating high school seniors as they prepare to enter college this fall.

Jointly awarded by the Merrimack and the Boucher Family, the recipient of this year’s Dr. Robert E. Boucher Scholarship is Rylee Ann Boucher of Penacook. Rylee Ann is a recent graduate of Merrimack Valley High School and will be attending Southern New Hampshire University. In honor of Dr. Boucher, who was known to inspire those around him to serve, the scholarship is presented every year to one deserving student who shows exceptional character and is dedicated to serving their community. Merrimack Valley High School students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact their guidance office.

The recipient of this year’s William Hilton Community Service Award is Abigail Denise of Bow. Abigail just graduated from Bow High School and is attending University of Delaware where she will study Chemical Engineering. Established in honor of William Hilton, a former Bank Director and community advocate, recipients of the award must demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. Bow High School students interested in learning more about the award should contact their guidance office.

The Merrimack also awards scholarships to four high school seniors from Concord, Hopkinton and Nashua who reflect Merrimack Style and are mindful of their communities through volunteerism and participation in school activities. To learn more about the multiple scholarships offered by the Merrimack, click here. 

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 2021, the Merrimack was recognized as “best bank” by both the Union Leader voters, and for the 11th year in a row by the Capital Area People’s Preferences. 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.