■The United Church of Penacook Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for Penacook residents.
CHERYL STINSON
news03303@aol.com
■I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day! Don’t forget to call, send flowers, or make the day special for your mother, grandmother, aunt, or your dad who also fills in as mom in some cases.
■This is a special week for Concord Grange 322 as it celebrates its 106th anniversary. It was on May 11, 1914, that Pineconia Grange was organized on the Concord Plains (now known as Heights). It was a group of 25 charter members who met to organize this non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting agriculture. The name Pineconia was determined by charter members, Alice Blodgett, Blanche Prescott and AB Stearns. Pineconia changed its name to Concord Grange in the early 2000s. The Grange continues to be a very active community organization and will hold its annual Community Awards Night this summer. Contact Grange Masster Dick Patten at 496-2917 for information.
■Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immanuel Community, East Congregational, Grace Episcopal Church and Concordia Lutheran churches continue to have Sunday worship services online. Check church websites for more information. Grace Episcopal will also have a daily service streamed on its website. Immaculate Heart of Mary is allowing people who wish to come inside the church on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for private prayer and meditation. The Immaculate Heart of Mary bookstore is closed, but email Kathy Fraser at the office if you need something urgently.
■Pastor Peter Chamberland is leading a service outside in the parking lot at Granite State Baptist Church (weather permitting) at 10 a.m. Listen online or on the radio at 97.1 FM.
■The Concord Council Knights of Columbus No. 112 will hold an officers’ meeting on Zoom on Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. The general business meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. This will include an election of officers. Please contact Matt Poulin at matthew.poulin@comcast.net or Glenn Camley at gpcamley@gmail.com. The Council has tentatively scheduled a tearing down of the creche on June 6 at 8 a.m. in the Immaculate Heart of Mary parking lot, where it is stored during the off season. The trailer has a broken axle that is not repairable. The Council is looking for a new trailer; contact Matt if you can assist.
■I had a nice conversation with longtime Kiwanis Club member Chris Pappas, who continues to recover from his major illness this past winter. He is planning to help with the annual Classic Car Show in early September. Keep up the great recovery! The Kiwanis Club is holding conference calls instead of in-person meetings. The plan is to hold the annual fair in late July.
■Happy birthday greetings are extended to Andrew Georgevits!
RICHARD PATTEN
496-2917
dickpatten7@gmail.com
■The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for its Leadership Greater Concord Class of 2021. This program fosters civic awareness in the community and participants are equipped with information they need in order to become more involved in activities that will enhance the region. Applications will be accepted through May 22. For more information, go to concordnhchamber.com or call 224-2508.
■The stay at home directive has been extended so I will keep my suggestions of five things you can do while staying at home going. Email me some of your own suggestions. 1) Do a spring cleaning of your car. 2) Learn a different language. 3) Listen to music and create a playlist. 4) Spend quality time with your children. 5) Check or change the batteries in your smoke detectors and flashlights.
■Save the date! The 46th Annual Market Days Festival will be moving to Aug. 20 to 22. Instead of kicking the summer off, they are ending it in a blaze! Dine, shop and experience Market Days like never before! For more information, contact Intown Concord at 226-2150 or email info@intownconcord.org
■The Food Pantry at First Congregational Church (177 N. Main St.) is open to Concord residents who need food. The hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Residents can come by one time per week.
■The Food Pantry at West Congregational Church (499 N. State St.) is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Good wholesome food as well as pet food is available. Park on the street behind the church, call 224-4142, stay in your car and just pop open your trunk. Easy as that.
■The Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord-Merrimack County is open during COVID-19 to anyone that needs assistance with pet food. It is available to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m. The SPCA asks all who participate to practice social distancing while at the shelter. For more information, visit popememorialspca.org.
■Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful moms. Enjoy your day!
■Happy Birthday Evan Anderson!
LYNDA PLANTE
717-1632
soxpatscats@gmail.com
■Two New Hampshire authors will be discussing their new books on Thursday at 6 p.m. virtually through Gibson’s Bookstore. Anthony Caplan is presenting Yet Today and Sam Kench is presenting The Fall of Polite. Presentations will be done through Zoom which is free for audience members and does not require a login. Register at gibsonsbookstore.com.
■The Capitol Center for the Arts is hard at work planning memorable shows for its upcoming 25th anniversary season. Tickets for the following shows are available for purchase and will also be valid if the show gets rescheduled: Unforgettable Fire U2 Tribute (June 6), Juston McKinney (June 13), Gile Concert Series: Sons of Serendip (June 23), Kevin James (June 24).
■Red River Theatres has five new films available for streaming at home. Visit redrivertheatres.org for a full list of available films and their descriptions.
■Bank of N.H. Stage shares that The Oshima Brothers are performing each week on Thursday at 6 p.m. on their Facebook page. Check out Jambase for other livestream concert options. Bank of N.H. Stage also has tickets available for upcoming shows: Joe Messineo CD Release Party/Erroll Wayne (May 28), Celtic Night (May 31). Visit banknhstage.com for a complete list of upcoming events.
■Together we are able to bring joy to our neighbors in senior health facilities that are living in unprecedented isolation due to coronavirus. Send your artwork, cards or messages of hope to a senior resident today! Get all the details at kimballjenkins.com/art-is-love.
■High School Seniors: You’ve missed a lot. Just know you will always be famous and will have the best stories in the future.
■All graduates: If you get a chance to walk across a stage in the future, do it! You’ll never regret it!
■Brides and Grooms. The costs, the travel, the preparation, the day! Most of it, unlike a class, can be rescheduled. This is where we say the marriage is more important than the wedding, and it is, but, darn it, find a way to celebrate.
■All my congrats, kudos and affection to all the graduates! Way to go Daniel Thomas Ver Hoeven Siletti! Our “Home Commencement” was fun and, well, less boring, however, almost as long! Thanks to all who contributed!
■Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, step-mothers, birth mothers, adoptive mothers, grand-mothers, godmothers, house mothers, mother-figures, foster mothers, mothers-in-law! Did I get them all? A toast! Miss you, Mum!
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com