■Calling all Boscawen businesses! The town needs your help. Signs to inform all residents of the change in the voting location for the primary on Sept. 8 are available at the town offices. If you would like to host a sign at your business, please call the Town Clerk, Nicole Hoyt at 753-9188 ext. 310.
■Take part in naming the new Town Forest! The deadline for your submission is Sept. 10. The Boscawen Conservation Commission is eager to receive your suggestions for the new acquisition that is located across from Marshall’s Firearms on Route 3. Please submit name ideas to Kearsten O’Brien by phone at 753-9188 ext. 321 or email at kobrien@townofboscawen.org. The Conservation Commission will pick five names and the students at Boscawen Elementary School make the final choice.
■Patrons and visitors are welcome to stop by the Boscawen Public Library for browsing and checking out materials Monday through Thursday from 12-4:30 pm. No appointment is needed, although the library does have a limit of 10 people inside (including staff). Masks are required to be worn. Curbside pickup of items continues to be available. Book requests can be made at boscawenpl@gmail.com or 753-8576. Call the library for more information.
■ The Merrimack Valley School Board has approved a reopening framework for the district’s schools. The first day of school for students is Sept. 9. A survey was sent to parents in July that asked them to choose an option for a safe return. Survey results and the latest updates can be read at mvsdpride.org/home.
MARY ALLARD
753-8576
boscawenpl@gmail.com
■The Canterbury Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office is open to walk-in service on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays from 3-7 p.m. and Thursdays from 12-7 p.m. Residents are asked to continue utilizing the drop box outside the building, mail and online services as much as possible. Please wear a mask and maintain social distance while visiting the office. Absentee ballot applications for the September and November elections are available at canterbury-nh.org/town-clerktax-collector and sos.nh.gov. Copies can also be mailed to residents upon request. Please call the office at 783-0153. Mail completed request forms to Town Clerk, PO Box 500, Canterbury, NH 03224. Please take proper steps to make sure your absentee ballot is returned as soon as possible. Return it in-person during office hours or by mailing it. The Town Clerk will be holding office hours on Labor Day, Sept. 7 from 3-5 p.m. for last minute absentee ballot requests and returns. Please come in to complete a ballot request or to drop off a completed ballot at 10 Hackleboro Road (the Sam Lake House). The mail will be checked at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 to gather any last-minute ballots that were returned through the mail.
■The Canterbury Farmers Market will be open Wednesday from 4-6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Elkins Public Library. The market will be held every Wednesday (unless there are thunderstorms) until Sept. 30. Paul Luff will be playing the acoustic and electric guitar with banjo covers from the 1960s and 70s. The market will have a curbside pickup. Customers will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer before entering the market, numbers of customers coming in at any one time will be monitored to avoid crowding, prepared food must be taken off site to eat, customers are asked to send minimal family members and children must be kept with parents/guardians at all times. No pets are allowed this year and all volunteers will wear masks. Market tokens will still be sold and sanitized beforehand. See canterburyfarmersmarket.com for more details.
■Canterbury United Community Church Pastor Sara Rossig has been ringing church bells every evening at 7 p.m. in recognition of essential workers, healthcare workers and those dealing with pain due to COVID-19. This is followed by 2 minutes of silence for reflection. All are welcome either in cars or spaced on the green by the church.
■Canterbury Citizens for Democracy invite anyone to join them at the Town Center on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. to stand in solidarity with communities of color and hope for change at this time in the nation’s history. Contact Doris Hampton at 783-4418 with questions.
■The Elkins Public Library has reopened. Library hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The library will be closed from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for extra cleaning. Masks are required. Curbside pickup is still available. Family visits will be by appointment only. Call 783 4386. There will be a limit of four people in the building at any one time. There are now passes for Petals in the Pines. See elkinspubilclibrary.org for details.
■The Canterbury Country Store can pre-bag and deliver orders of groceries thanks to local volunteers. There is a minimum order of $20. The store continues to stock local meat and dairy produce, all the basic household supplies, ice cream, candy, wine, beer and outside there are new plants from Canterbury Plantation. Please call ahead for home delivery, allowing 24 hours notice if possible. Call 783-9933 or visit canterburycountrystore.com.
■PYO Flowers at Petals in the Pines between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Visit petalsinthepines.com for more details or call Donna at 783-0220.
■Electric/Plugin Hybrid Show and Tell will be on Sept. 9 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Center. Learn from neighbors who will display their electric or plug-in hybrid cars and answer questions. There will be about eight cars on display, including Toyota Prius Prime, Ford C-Max, Tesla, Chevy Volt and Bolt, Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro and Subaru Crosstrek plug-in hybrid. Masks will be required for attendees and electric car owners. There will also be handouts and displays with additional information.Contact the energy committee at CanterburyEnergyCommittee@gmail.com with questions.
■Canterbury Shaker Village grounds are open and weekend outdoor tours are available at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Masks are expected and social distancing will be observed. Please come five minutes early and gather by the Horse Barn. This year’s Annual Artisan Market will be held Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to enjoy artisan crafts, produce, music and demonstrations from vendors. Admission is $12 per adult and $6 members. All youth under 25 free. Concerts on the Green will continue Sept. 13 from 4-5 p.m. and will feature the Concord-based bluegrass band The Wholly Roillers. Bring a lawn chair. Seating is socially distanced and masks are required. Event is free, but a $10 donation is suggested. Visit shakers.org for details.
LOIS SCRIBNER
scribnerlois@gmail.com
■Our sympathy to the family of Harold Janeway who died on Aug. 20. Harold was a mainstay of our community and the state of New Hampshire. He was Webster’s Moderator for 23 years, served in the State Senate for two terms, was active in many conservation groups and was a veteran of the Navy. He will be missed by all of us.
■Does anyone know the whereabouts of two of the town’s wooden absentee voting signs? One was put up with permission from a board member near the Pillsbury Lake clubhouse. Another sign was on Deer Meadow under the power lines, also with permission from the owner. These signs are town property. Please return these signs. The signs are large pieces of plywood with red, white and blue lettering.
■Dana Hadley is the new Town Administrator. He has 24 years of experience working as a town administrator – six years in New Hampshire, six years in Vermont and twelve years as an assistant town administrator in Peterborough. While the town offices are currently closed, we welcome Dana and his family to Webster.
NANCY PICTHALL-FRENCH
webstertowncrier@gmail.com