The deadline for news items is Tuesday at 5 p.m. for publication in the following Sunday’s paper.
Happy New Year! Welcome, 2017.
CHERYL STINSON
news03303@aol.com
The Heights Community Center will be closed Monday for the holiday and on Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King/Civil Rights Day holiday. It is also closed when Concord schools are closed due to inclement weather. Ping Pong is now available on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. for those who can’t make it during the day. For more information, contact Becky at 230-4982 or Rbukowski@ConcordNH.gov.
Concord Grange 322 members are reminded to send New Year’s and Valentine’s Day cards to their new Secret Pals. The Grange is in winter recess until March. The Grange is planning to bring back the Easter egg hunt; more details will follow. Please contact Grange Master Dick Patten at 496-2917 for more information about Grange activities.
The Grange would like to thank New Hampshire Federal Credit Union for its donation of $500 toward holiday lights for the Grange tree at the corner of Pembroke, Airport and Loudon Roads. A thank you is also due to the General Services crew from the City of Concord for stringing the lights and a special thank you to volunteer Megan Keach, who strung lights around the bottom of the tree. Thank you, Polly Saltmarsh, for your support also.
The Hatbox Theatre will present a premier of an abridged edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare starting Friday. For more information or tickets, visit hatboxnh.com.
The NHTI Film Society will show the movie Shampoo Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. The film will be shown with an apres-film discussion about director Hal Ashby led by David Stewart. This 1975 film is rated R and runs 109 minutes. It is open to the public with a suggested $5 donation; free to NHTI students with a valid NHTI ID. For more information, call 271-6484, ext. 4101 or visit.nhti.edu.
The Horseshoe Pond Toastmasters will meet Thursday at noon at Northeast Delta Dental. For more information, call 223-1287.
The Karner Blue Toastmasters will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Environmental Services building on Hazen Drive. For more information, call 568-3128.
A happy and healthy new year to everyone.
CHRIS WEEDEN
224-1715
clweeden@comcast.net
Concord Public Library would like you to join other book lovers at its low-pressure book club on Wednesday at the True Brew Barista (3 Bicentennial Square). Chat about what you’ve been reading and listen to suggestions and recommendations from other readers. There are no assigned books in this group; just come and share your latest reads. The group will talk books from 6 to 7 p.m. and mingle from 7 to 8 p.m. Library staff will be on hand to take notes and will share the group’s recommendations in the library newsletter. For more information, call 225-8670.
Family Story Time is offered by Concord Public Library on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Blanchard Room of the library. Enjoy plenty of finger plays, songs and rhymes. Listen to stories with your young ones while meeting with other parents. Registration is not required and all ages are invited. For more information, call 225-8670.
As part of the Walker Lecture Fund, Concord City Auditorium is having a reading Sunday at 2 p.m. Hear the first table reading of a new play about a New England Oscar-winning actress in the Story of Ruth. For more information, call 496-1384.
Concord Hospital’s Center for Health Promotion is offering a Stretch and Core Fitness program starting Jan. 11 and each Wednesday for seven sessions from noon to 12:45 p.m. This easy-to-moderate class combines gentle yoga and stretching with Pilates and core exercise. The cost for the program is $55. For more information or to register, call 230-7300.
The City of Concord will continue its Christmas tree collection program this year. Starting Jan. 9, residents can place their Christmas trees curbside with their trash on their scheduled collection day. All lights, tinsel and decorations need to be removed or the tree will not be collected. Wreaths and artificial trees will not be collected. Trees can also be dropped off at the transfer station during its open hours in January at no charge. For more information, call 225-8500.
Happy New Year!
LYNDA PLANTE
228-6800
soxpatscats@gmail.com
An English Country Dance will take place Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the West Street Ward House, 41 West St. It’s beginner-friendly and no partner is needed. Dance to beautiful live music with instruction provided by a caller. Visit NHECDS.ORG to learn more about this dance form. The contact person is Judith Ackerson at 934-2543.
Concord Parks and Recreation never stops with new, fun, interesting classes, including Get ready for Stories, Music and Dance for ages 2 to 4, Pre-School Open Gym for 18 months to 3, and archery classes. For more information, call 225-8690.
Zoie V. Little visits Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St, on Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. to present Black, White, or Other. This book is about Little’s first-hand experience growing up with being adopted and knowing her other siblings were not. Black, White, or Other was written to be read by those who have gone through or are going through the same situation that she had and to touch and inspire lives. Check it out at gibsonsbookstore.com/event/zoie-little.
This Saturday at 4 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore, Katrina Kenison gives voice to the simple joys and private longings of women everywhere. Moments of Seeing: Reflections from an Ordinary Life! is a long-awaited collection of essays from her popular blog. For more information, visit gibsonsbookstore.com/event/moments-of-seeing.
Here are a few of the upcoming shows at the Capitol Center for the Arts. 44 S. Main St.: The MET, Live in HD, Nabucco; National Theatre HD Rebroadcast: No Man’s Land; Get the Led Out. Visit ccanh.org or call 225-1111.
Celebrate the new year with a great movie. Showing at Red River Theatres, 11. S. Main St., through Thursday: Lion, Manchester by the Sea, Cover Girl, Mercy Street and Victoria. Call 224-4600 for dates and times.
There are so many cliché things to say at this time of year – peace, joy, health. All are true and wished for you. However, do something new this new year. Find an old friend, help a new one. Be better. Go after that dream. I hope you’re all feeling okay this morning. Happy New Year to you and yours! Thank you for reading. Always, always, dwell in possibility.
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com