In 1950 a man named Forest Witcraft penned these words: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be better because I was important in the life of a child.” There is a way for anyone to be important in the life of a child and that is by becoming a CASA. A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate who volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem to advocate for an abused and/or neglected child in the courts. This may sound daunting, but in reality it primarily requires common sense, a commitment to children and about 10 to 15 hours a month. CASA’s are trained and have the support of program managers and peer coordinators who provide guidance and ongoing education. Every day a call goes out for a CASA for a new case of abuse or neglect, so the need is ongoing. To learn more about CASA please attend a virtual information session at casnh.org/infosessions, call 626-4600, visit casanh.org, or email speakup@casanh.org. Training for new volunteers is also being conducted online now. The next session begins on Aug. 3. Become a CASA and make the world a better place!
The communities of Boscawen, Canterbury, and Concord want to remind the public that swimming and boating in rivers or water bodies with a current can be extremely dangerous. There have been two fatalities and several water rescues on the Merrimack and Contoocook Rivers in the past month. With the normal recreational areas being closed due to COVID-19, there is increased public use of remote river areas with no lifeguards on duty. Please use caution when swimming or boating on any water bodies, but be extra careful when you are on or in moving water. Even if a river looks calm, there can be fast-moving undercurrents. Always enter unknown or shallow water cautiously, feet first.
Here are some additional safety tips:
■Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are always strongly recommended, even if you are a strong swimmer.
■Know the location or name of the area you are in so that you can identify it to 9-1-1 if you have an emergency.
■Check with those that are familiar with the area to identify areas with current or steep dropoffs.
■Don’t swim alone – always have a swim buddy.
■Learn CPR and rescue techniques. Review the steps to hands-only CPR (no mouth to mouth resuscitation needed) here from the American Heart Association, which can help save a life and be used until help arrives: cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/hands-only-cpr.
Our Fire and EMS personnel want you to enjoy summer water activities safely. While drowning deaths peak among one and two year olds, drownings continue to be the second leading cause of preventable death through age 15. According to the National Safety Council, 353 people age 5 to 24 drowned in 2017.
This was the time planned for Franklin Opera House’s annual gala fundraising event, the Celebrity Waiter Dinner and Auction. But, as with so many other organizations, the continuing public health situation dictated a need to change course. And that’s why we see “Lights, Camera, AUCTION!” beginning July 19. What’s unique about this online auction is its final hour, a live event at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 31 to be streamed on YouTube, with entertainment and last-minute fervent bidding. This final hour will be hosted by Opera House Board Member and Emcee Leigh Webb, with musical entertainment provided by fiddler Audrey Budington and guitarist and singer Bob Rutherford. More than 75 items are listed in the auction, which can be found at 32auctions.com/FOH. There’s something for everyone, and items may be added at any time, so you’ll want to visit more than once. Information about how to access the final live hour on YouTube is on the auction site as well. This event is made possible with a grant from AutoServ of Tilton, annual sponsor of the Celebrity Waiter Dinner and Auction.
Capital City Sunrise Rotary Club and the Randy Daniels Family recently awarded four Randy Daniels Memorial $1,000 scholarships to the following students: Tora Thornley (Hopkinton High School), Tressa Tewksbury (Hopkinton High School), Sarah Serrano (Merrimack Valley High School), Corrine Abbott (Pembroke Academy). The Mission of the Capital City Sunrise Rotary Club is to support community and international projects by caring for others and sharing fellowship with all.