■Immanuel Community Church, East Congregational Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Concordia Lutheran Church and Granite State Baptist Church have moved worship services inside. Services are also streamed online. Check church websites for details.
■The 69th annual Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Concord Grange #322 and Fraternal Order of the Eagles will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the Heights. The parade floats and decorated vehicles will be judged starting at 8 a.m. in the parking lot at the Department of Transportation on Hazen Drive. The theme of this year’s parade is “What Christmas Means to Me.” The parade participants will march from Hazen Drive turning east onto Loudon Road, proceed towards and turn onto Canterbury Road. The parade will proceed down Canterbury Road and disband in the former Sprague Electric parking lot. Parade viewers are asked to please respect social distancing and wear face masks if possible. The parade will feature the Scottish Pipe Drum Corps, Sons of the American Revolution Pipe Drums and possibly a couple other groups. There will be emergency response vehicles, antique vehicles, marching units and special guest Santa Claus. Brian Blackden is serving as chairman for the second year with Dick Patten, assisting for the 49th year. The parade committee is asking for people to bring new toys for Santa’s float. The toys will be given to the New Hampshire State Police for its Toys for Tots project. Call Brian at 229-4967 for more information. Donations are still needed to defray the costs of the parade. Please send a check or money order to Mrs. Debbie Patten, 30 Pinewood Trail, Concord, NH 03301. The check should be made to the Concord Christmas Parade.
■This year’s Christmas Fair at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 180 Loudon Road, will be on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a large white tent with the sides down and heat inside. Face masks are needed to enter the tent. This year’s fair will feature a silent auction and raffles with many prizes. Prizes include food baskets, a ride chauffeured by Father Ray in his antique auto, along with dinner at a restaurant. Contact Father Ray at 224-4393 for information.
■Immaculate Heart of Mary Church will be selling fresh cut Christmas trees starting Nov. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside the Activity Center. The proceeds benefit the Community Service Fund at the church.
■The Bektash Temple Shriners will be holding its annual Fez-tival of trees starting Saturday and concluding Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. The event will be held virtually. Visit the Bektash Temple website to enter bids on the various Christmas trees, raffles and more. Call Lloyd Doughty for information.
■Concord Grange 322 will meet Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Lecturer Gary Ford will contact the members with instructions on how to sign in. The Grange will be draping the charter in memory of Rodney Huntoon.
■The Windmill Restaurant on Loudon Road is continuing a tradition started by Louie Smirnioudis. many years ago to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner to anyone. Due to the pandemic, the Windmill is taking take-out and delivery orders for the meal. Please call the Windmill at 225-0600 and let them know if you would like take-out or delivery. Thanks to Sofia and her sons and family for keeping Louie’s memory alive.
■Happy birthday greetings are extended to Joshua Harwood!
■Deepest sympathies are extended to the family of the late Ruth Barasso, who passed away recently. Ruth lived on the East Side with her family for many years. I remember Bonnie and Ricky from school days and they were always a happy group.
■Deepest sympathies are extended to my cousin, Kenneth Patten, whose wife Beverly passed away recently. Beverly was a former member of Cardigan Grange of Alexandria along with singing at many church services and Grange functions.
RICHARD PATTEN
496-2917
dickpatten7@gmail.com
■The Junior Service League will be having a winter clothing drive to benefit the Mayhew Program, which connects mentors with at-risk boys. The drive will be to collect new and gently used hats, gloves, socks, boots, jackets and snow pants for boys ages 10-18. Donations can be dropped off on Nov. 28 outside of the Concord Food Co-Op (24 South Main Street) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Gift cards are also accepted.
■The Food Pantry at West Congregational Church (499 North State Street) is open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Good wholesome food, as well as pet food, is available. Enter through the door with the Food Pantry sign between Johnson Hall and the church. Staff will greet you with more instructions. For more information or questions, call 224-4142.
■Bulk leaf collection will continue as weather permits through Dec. 11. In order for crews to practice safe social distancing, traditional leaf vacuums will not be used for bulk leaf collection this year. Instead, crews will operate trackless leaf loaders. Residents that participate in bulk leaf collection are required to rake all leaves loosely (unbagged) into the street along the edge of the road or sidewalk. Any leaves that are not along the edge of the road or sidewalk will not be reachable for collection. Avoid piling leaves and keep leaves tight along the curb to keep streets clear. Crews can only come by once and work as weather permits, focusing on residential roads with drainage areas to keep the city’s stormwater system clear. For more information, call 228-3727 or visit concordnh.gov/545/Leaf-Collection.
■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 Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. All who participate need to practice social distancing protocol while at the shelter. For more information, visit popememorialspca.org.
■Enjoy ice skating at Everett Arena. Skating hours will be Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for ages 14 and up and $5 for ages 13 and below (kids ages 3 and under are free). Skate rentals will be available in the pro shop for $5. Skate rentals and skate aide walkers (limited supply) will be thoroughly disinfected after each use upon returning to the pro shop. Public skating will be reduced to 50% capacity at this time. Masks/facial coverings will be required and screenings will be conducted. Follow signage when entering and exiting the ice during public skate. All skaters must skate in the same direction. For more information, call 228-2784.
■The 35th Concord Christmas Tree Lighting celebration will now happen at a different time. It is still scheduled for Nov. 27 at the State House /City Plaza, but activities will now begin at 5 p.m. People must wear a face mask and social distance when the Brian Waldron Band is playing. Please bring new toys for the State Police Stuff A Cruiser project. Call 496-2917 for information.
LYNDA PLANTE
717-1632
soxpatscats@gmail.com
■“Discovering Magic” with Andrew Pinard will be at the Hatbox Theatre in the Steeplegate Mall on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to hatboxnh.com.
■Join a virtual book talk and Q&A session with North Face athlete Mark Synnott and participate in a conversation about his life as a writer and climber, and his book “The Impossible Climb,” an insider perspective of Alex Hornnold’s freestyle solo climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at nhti-marksynnott.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Laura Scott at 271-6484 ext. 4239 or lascott@ccsnh.edu.
■Cheer on the South End’s own In The Field Irish Dancers as they dazzle the crowds during Saturday’s Concord Christmas Parade. The group steps off at 9:30 a.m.
■The Concord Christmas Parade will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The parade will form at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation parking lot on Hazen Drive, turn left on Loudon Round and proceed to Canterbury Road, where the parade will disband in the parking lot of the Concord Business Center. The following streets will be closed during the parade: Loudon Road, from Hazen Drive to Canterbury Road; and Canterbury Road.
■The Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire are preparing an online Fez-tival of Trees experience. See all the trees from the comfort of your own home and buy tickets online in the tree raffles you specify. Cash Calendars are available for purchase now, and the Treasure Tree and 50/50 raffles have begun! Online viewing of trees begins on Saturday. Contact 225-5372 or feztival@bektashshriners.org, or visit bektashshriners.org for more information.
■The Capitol Center for the Arts will rebroadcast “Rigoletto on the Lake” on Saturday at 3 p.m. Here’s a treat to celebrate the Center’s 25th anniversary. Also, search Opening Day Capitol Center for the Arts – November 10, 1995 on YouTube! Enjoy!
■This week Red River Theatres presents “City Hall,” “The Antidote” and “Hospital” are now available on Red River’s virtual cinema. Visit redrivertheatres.org.
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com