■The Penacook Winter Farmers Market is open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Riverhill Grange, 32 Horse Hill Road.
CHERYL STINSON
news03303@aol.com
■Today is the last day for performances of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” and “Fruitcake!” at the Hatbox Theatre at the Steeplegate Mall. “Amahl & the Night Visitors” will be performed on Friday through Sunday. There will be one performance of the “Granite State Puppet Slam” on Dec. 29. Visit hatboxnh.com for more information.
■There will be a Senior Coffee Social/Holiday Celebration at the City Wide Community on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be an “Attic Treasures Yankee Swap.” Sign-ups are requested for this event. Contact Becky at 230-4982 or email Rbukowski@ConcordNH.gov or sign up at the Community Center.
■Everyone is invited to a family friendly service on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. at East Church, 51 Mountain Road. For questions or directions, call 224-9342.
■Immanuel Community Church will hold its Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. The public is invited to the candlelit sanctuary to hear the story of Christmas through scripture and music.
■The Concord Chapter of Adult Children of Alcoholics will meet Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m at Grace Episcopal Church. To learn more, visit AdultChildren.org.
■The Horseshoe Pond Toastmasters will meet Wednesday at noon at Northeast Delta Dental. For more information, call 223-3962.
■The Karner Blue Toastmasters will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at the environmental services building. Call 568-3126.
CHRIS WEEDEN
224-1715
clweeden@comcast.net
■The Concord Public Library is offering Paws for Pages a program designed to help kids improve their reading and communication skills on Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mr. T is a Yorkshire terrier, Millie is a Labradoodle, and Gypsy is a greyhound. The dogs are certified through Therapy Dogs International, and one will be on-hand with his or her owner during this time. Children who attend will each have 15 minutes of undivided attention as they read aloud to the dog. For more information, call 225-8670, ext. 4.
■The Concord Hospital Center for Health Promotion would like to invite Seniors to participate in the CDC developed falls risk screening tomorrow from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The Seniors, Strong and Savvy session is designed to provide information regarding your physical mobility and falls risk. They will discuss classes and resources at Concord Hospital, as well as in the Concord community, to keep you strong and steady in the years to come. There is no cost to attend but -registration is required. For more information or to register, call 230-7300.
■Capital Toastmasters will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Granite Ledges of Concord (behind the Concord Hospital) at 151 Langley Parkway. For more information, call 210-386-7351 or visit capital.toastmastersclubs.org.
■The N.H. Federal Credit Union Center for Finance & Education, 47 N. Main St., is offering an Investing 101 course on Thursday from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Learn how to set investment and savings goals, determine your attitude towards risk and build your savings and investment portfolio. The cost to reserve a seat is $10 which is refundable upon course completion. Non-attendance will result in the forfeiture of your seat reservation fee. To make a reservation or for more information, call 224-7731.
■On Dec. 23 from 3 to 4 p.m., the Local Baskit, 10 Ferry St., will offer a Wine and Cheese Christmas Shopping Wrap Up Tasting Event. Finish out your Christmas shopping with a wine and cheese tasting event. Plus grab some last minute gifts, appetizer kits or hostess cookie platter gifts. They will have the tape, scissors and wrapping paper out for you too! There is no charge to attend. For more information, visit localbaskit.com or call 219-0882.
LYNDA PLANTE
717-1632
soxpatscats@gmail.com
■The Jingle Bell Run/Walk, today will include street closures from 9 a.m. to noon. The race begins at Rundlett Middle School, travels Norwich Street to Birch Street, Iron Works Road, Clinton Street, and back to Norwich Street ending at Rundlett Middle School. The race is hosted by the Arthritis Foundation and begins at 10 a.m.
■An opportunity to respond to difficult situations rather than react and to experience the true joys of parenthood is the basis of this program. Attend Mindful Parenting: Practicing Life in the Here and Now on Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Abbot-Downing School Cafetorium. Childcare and Children’s Programs are available. To register, please contact Laurie Hart at lhart@sau8.org or 225-0811, ext. 7070.
■If you like a musical season, they’ve got it! Hosted by the Concord Music School’s Piano Department at 23 Wall St, the annual Integrated Arts Recital is a special event intended to both celebrate and encourage the creativity and unique personalities of our student performers. Students create and present an additional form of art of their own rendering to further describe their piece, such as a painting, drawing, poem, story, costume, dance, or any other creation. Visual and written work are included in a program booklet, as well as displayed on stage during the recital. The Integrated Arts Recital is free and open to the public on Thursday at 7 p.m. Join us for this joyful celebration of music and creativity.
■Under the direction of Peggo Horstmann Hodes, 18 women began singing together this fall at the Concord Music School. The new Women’s Vocal Ensemble will perform a one-set concert of beautiful, happy music on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Entitled “Love Is Love,” the songs are inspired by what happens when women sing together. In addition to a medley in tribute to Aretha Franklin, the group will sing “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” “Kinder,” and “Love Is Love.” Songs of the holiday season will also be included. The Women’s Ensemble is looking for a resonant new name. Attendees are invited to contribute their suggestions.
■Please join us at Concord Community Music School on Friday at 7 p.m., for a Student Recital of assorted instruments and voice. There is free admission and all are welcome.
■Come celebrate Christ’s birth at 4 p.m. for a family service of Carols and Candlelight on Dec. 24. On Christmas Eve at 7 p.m., share the festival service of Lessons and Carols. Then at 11 p.m., take part in the Candlelight Festival of Lessons and Carols with Celebration of Communion. All at South Church United Church of Christ, 27 Pleasant St.
■Ring in the holiday season with the annual yuletide program featuring the Capital Jazz Orchestra and guest vocalists CJ Poole and Laura Daigle, along with narrator Laura Knoy of NHPR who will be reciting “The Night Before Christmas” on Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts. Tickets are $27.50 to $47.50.
■There’s a Pop-Up Red Carpet Holiday Show through Dec. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibition features a collection of fine studio furniture made by members of the N.H. Furniture Masters, 47 S. Main St. This is a special opportunity to view and purchase work by ten fine furniture makers in one location. Each item in this show is for sale. Shop for fine furniture, mingle with the Masters and maybe hear a Christmas jingle or two!
■Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, presents Open Mic. Sundays at 9 p.m. Contact them at 228-9833.
■Feeling creative this time of year? Try the Figure Drawing Session on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Phoenix Nest, 40 Thorndike St. The price is $10 and is paid at the door. Studio members get a $5 discount. This occurs on the first and third Tuesdays. Figure Drawing at the Phoenix Nest is for all ages that can handle some nude modeling. BYO drawing supplies, though some are available at the studio.
■Also at the Phoenix Nest is Friday Poetry. Come this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and also on Dec. 28. There will be a sliding scale price of $5 to $10 at the door. Tips go to featured poet. Join us every Friday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the featured poet goes on at 6.p.m. Open mic sign-ups are first come, first served and they’ll get through as many as they can. There is no space for instruments unless it is in your hands. BYOB, snacks and soft drinks are for sale. Contact Cheri Haire at phoenixflightcreativestudios@gmail.com or 651-6628.
■Get involved with a DIY Creation Station on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Heights Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road. This free event is sponsored by the Concord Public Library. We will supply the materials. You bring your imagination and creativity. Contact salemy@concordnh.gov or 230-4932 for more information.
■If you think you’re an Emerging Engineer there’s a program for you on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Heights Community Center. It uses Legos, building blocks and more.
■There will be a Senior Health Clinic on Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road. Additional Dates include Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The price is a suggested donation of $10. Services include foot care, blood pressure screening and more. Please call for an appointment. Contact Information is Concord Regional VNA, 224-4093, ext. 5815.
■Another year has gone by and our good friend and South End neighbor, Louis Sillari, has another birthday! Lou will be celebrating his 103 years on Saturday. 103 years is really something to celebrate! If you see Lou out and about in Concord, tip your hat and say “Go Irish” and you’ll receive a big smile from our birthday gentleman! Happy Birthday, Neighbor Lou!
■National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is recognized in communities across the country on Friday, the first night of winter and longest night of the year. Join together with many community organizations as they gather at the State House Plaza for a Candlelight Vigil at 4 p.m. to honor those whose lives were shortened by homelessness and passed in 2018, recognizing the loss of those who suffered poverty and homelessness in our own community. The Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger, of the Unitarian Universalist Church, will emcee the vigil which will include songs, a poem and reading, the names of those who have died this past year, and a moment of silence. The Rise Again Outreach truck will be present to collect donations of warm winter outerwear and boots, winter socks, blankets, hand and toe warmers and batteries for those in need.
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com