■Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has begun and continues through Dec. 15. Visit nh.gov/insurance/consumers/mp_plans.htm to enroll for the plan that is right for you and becomes effective Jan. 1. If you are already enrolled, this is an opportunity to review and alter your plan if necessary.
■The Festival of Trees, produced by the Franklin Opera House, returns for its eighth season for the weekends of Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. Visit franklinoperahouse.org for details or call 934-1901. The event is free, however, tickets will be required to reserve the time you wish to walk through and participate in the raffle to guarantee social distancing. Masks must be worn. Many
beautiful holiday items will be on display.
■Parks & Recreation is sponsoring a COVID-19 safe Santa visit on Dec. 4 from 3:30-6 p.m. at the Bessie Rowell Community Center. Reservations are necessary. Call 934-2118. Masks are mandatory and there will be hand washing and temperature checks. Santa will remain behind a plexiglass barrier.
■Parks & Recreation is sponsoring Boomer’s BBQ Toy Drive on Dec. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Bessie Rowell Community Center. Please bring new unwrapped toys for boys and girls of all ages. Boomer’s offers a free meal to anyone dropping off toys. The event is also
sponsored by ClearChoiceMD.
■Service Link can offer phone appointments for those wanting information on Medicare open enrollment. Call 228-6625 ext. 1207 to set an appointment with Wayne Blanchard.
■The TRIP Center continues to provide “Meals to Go” and home-delivered meals for those who participate in congregant dinners and the Meals on Wheels program. Meals can be picked up Mondays and Thursdays. Reach out to anyone you know who might benefit from this program. Call Nancy at 934-4151 for information on how to participate.
■Door to door senior transportation (wheelchair accessible) is available Monday through Friday if you live in the Franklin, Tilton, Northfield area. Get to an appointment or shopping, but please call 24 hours in advance at 225-1989. Service to Andover, Danbury and Hill is available on Fridays.
■The CAP Weatherization Program is available if you meet any of these requirements: no insulation in the attic or walls, age 62 or older, age 6 or younger, or a person with disabilities is living in the house. If you qualify for fuel assistance and meet income guidelines for weatherization, as well as the above items, you may be eligible. Call 225-3295 to discuss options.
■The Recreation Center has several programs for children and youths. Visit the Parks & Rec webpage at franklinnh.org for a full listing of what is available or call 934-2118.
■Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry’s program, Feed the Need!, provides supplemental weekend food bags to children in the Franklin schools. Current needs are microwaveable mac and cheese cups, microwave popcorn packets, instant oatmeal packets, and microwave pasta cups. Extra garden produce? Call the pantry at 934-2662, located at 1 Central Street (across from Benson Auto), if you would like to donate. Email info.trifp@gmail.com to arrange for drop off. Monetary donations are always welcome.
■The Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry is looking for volunteers at various times throughout the week. Contact Alec Cahn at 934-2662 or email info.trifp@gmail.com.
■The Franklin Animal Shelter will remain open by appointment only until further notice. Visit franklinanimalshelter.com for information about upcoming events and to support the shelter.
■The Franklin Public Library is open by appointment Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 15 minutes of browsing to one party at a time. For now, there are no public computers. A virtual story hour is presented weekly. Curbside service is provided Monday through Friday. Please call 934-2911 for details.
■If you would like to receive regular notices of city meetings in your email box, visit franklinnh.org, select “Subscribe to E-news” and check the kind of information you would like to receive.
JUDITH ACKERSON
369-0574
franklintowncrier@gmail.com