ALLENSTOWN Holiday assistance

■St. John the Baptist Church is offering breads, veggies and more on the first weekend of every month. Food is free and available to anyone. The doors are open Sunday from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

■The Town of Allenstown 2020 Holiday Assistance Program will provide children’s gifts and holiday meals to those in need this holiday season. To participate, you can go to the charity registry at tgt.gifts/townofallenstownangletree. You can also ship or drop off gifts to Allenstown Hall by Dec. 14. For more information, contact Trish at 485-4276 ext. 110 or pcaruso@allenstownnh.gov.

■Allenstown’s 2nd Annual Holiday Lighting Contest, sponsored by the Allenstown Economic Development Committee, has started and you will be able to vote on your favorite house or lawn decorations until 6 p.m. on Dec. 17. Trophies and gift certificates will be awarded for both categories at the awards ceremony on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Town Hall. You can register your home for the contest by emailing economic-development@comcast.net. This is a fun event. Good luck everyone.

CLAUDETTE VERVILLE

485-4437

cverville2@comcast.net

CHICHESTER Heritage Commission decorating the town

■The town librarian, Caroline, won some brand new board books in a raffle from the British Museum. Bring the little ones to take a look. There will be a new storytime starting Monday on the Chichester Town Library Facebook page. Caroline will read “Thank You Helpers” written by Patricia Hegarty, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore and “Snowmen at Christmas” by Caralyn Buener. The “make and take” craft is to design your own ornament!

■The Selectmen/Advisory Budget Committee meeting will be held on Monday via Zoom at 6 p.m.

■The Conservation Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

■On Tuesday, the Chichester Historical Society will meet from 9 a.m. to noon at the museum.

■On Wednesday, Parks & Recreation will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

■The Out of Your Attic Thrift Shop is having special half price days on Wednesday and Dec. 17 to say thank you for a wonderful year! Lots of Christmas ornaments and decorations are still available. The shop is at 345 Suncook Valley Highway.

■The Chichester Heritage Commission members have decorated wreaths to be distributed to the town-owned buildings on Main Street, the gazebo and the two churches. The stone planters and flower tubs have had evergreen boughs placed in them for the holiday/winter season. White light candles have been placed in the Grange/Town Hall windows for the holiday season by members of the Heritage Commission. Additional members and alternates are needed for the Heritage Commission. Inquire at the Town Office or call 798-5709. The commission is looking for volunteers to help with the watering and flower bed weeding for the spring and summer months. If interested, please call Lucille Noel at 798-5709. The commission is also in need of a donation of a real or artificial Christmas tree for the town gazebo. Five feet or 6-feet would look great. Please call 798-5709 if you can supply one. Thank you.

■The Chichester Police Association is once again running the Secret Santa Program. This year it is especially important to help kids not feel the effects of COVID-19 on Christmas morning. If you or someone you know needs a little extra help this season, please stop by the police station at 22 Main Street and grab the information sheet from the bulletin board outside. If you would like to help the Police Association, call the office at 798-4911and ask for Donna or Chief Clarke. Must have the information no later than Dec. 18. Ways to participate include: adopting a child or family, making a monetary donation (checks payable to Chichester Police Assocation, note Secret Santa Program in the memo), shopping for a child using Association money, wrapping gifts or helping write thank yous from Chief Patrick Clarke.

■Holiday food baskets are available upon request for those in need. Please call the Town Offices to speak with Kristy to secure your food basket. Applications are due ASAP. Contact 798-5350 or kwilley@chichesternh.org. There is also a link to the application on the town website.

CAROL HENDEE

247-7191

alexsmeme@hotmail.com

EPSOM Toy and clothing drives

■The last day of the Granite State Brotherhood Motorcycle Club toy drive is Sunday. Check out the Epsom NH Community Facebook page for the many drop off locations. Some are Circle Restaurant, Epsom Town Clerk’s Office and Hilltop Pizza.

■The Planning Board will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office meeting room.

■The Budget Committee will meet on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office meeting room.

■The Epsom Police Association’s 3rd Annual Toy and Clothing Drive will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. New toys and new winter clothing for boys and girls of all ages will be collected. Those who donate will earn a free entry into several raffles for gift cards. Donations will be accepted at the Epsom Police Department up to Friday. For everyone’s comfort and security, visitors must wear a mask and practice social distancing. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.

■Join Journey’s End Maple Farm for its Holiday Open House on Saturday Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farm is located at 295 Loudon Road, Pittsfield.

■Happy birthday to Connie Mullen on Sunday, Heather Davis andJeff Miller on Tuesday, Doreen Mathison and Susan Weeks on Wednesday and Morgan Mewkill on Friday! Enjoy your special days.

TERRY RIEL

rielt397@gmail.com

PEMBROKE Polar Express Drive Thru

■Register for the Pembroke Town Library’s Polar Express Drive Thru. Space is limited. Drive from page to page and masked “readers” will read you the whole story. There will be hot cocoa (with lids), goodie bags and a chance to win The First Gift of Christmas. Call the Library at 485-7851 or email pembrokenhtownlibrary@gmail.com to register.

The next Pembroke Town Library book discussion will take place on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. The group will discuss “The President is Missing” by James Patterson. Extra copies are available to borrow. Participate virtually (the library will email you instructions to join online via WebEx Meetings) or in-person (limit to nine attendees). Wearing a mask and social distancing are required. Email pembrokenhtownlibrary@gmail.com to reserve your virtual or in-person spot.

In order to lessen the risk of transmitting the virus, this year’s Pembroke Giving Tree “secret Santas” are asked to provide monetary donations or gift cards for Walmart, Target or Books A Million. You can denote your preference of a child’s sex or age to receive your donation by making a notation. A system has been set up to ensure that your donation will be used to purchase the items that the children have requested Please leave your name, address and phone number with your donation at the front desk or mail it to Muriel Previe, Welfare Director, 311 Pembroke Street, Pembroke, NH 03275 by Friday. You will receive a letter indicating what your donation was used for. The letter can also be used for tax purposes. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Facility permits are available at the Department of Public Works on Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. These permits are free of charge and issued strictly to Pembroke residents. Just present a valid Department of Motor Vehicles Registration at the Public Works Department Office for your vehicle(s). The permit allows you to utilize the Transfer Station, White Sands Conservation Area and to park in the municipal parking lot. Facility permits expire each year on Dec. 31. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Dept. at 485-4422.

JOCELYN CARLUCCI

485-3352

taihi@comcast.net

PITTSFIELD Secret Santa donations

■Donations for Secret Santa for Christmas 2020 are still being collected. This program provides Christmas assistance for residents of Pittsfield in need. The program collects not only toys, but warm outfits and needed winter outerwear. This program is fully funded by donations from local individuals and businesses. If you would like to assist, donations of new, unwrapped toys and clothing can be dropped off at the fire station at your convenience. Monetary donations are also very much appreciated. If you are donating clothing or toys, please contact Kris at the fire station at 435-6807 to coordinate a time to drop them off, or arrange for a pick up time. Checks may be made payable to: Pittsfield Secret Santa, PO Box 392, Pittsfield, NH 03263.

■For the month of December, Pittsfield Elementary School PTO will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Hannaford store located at 174 First NH Turnpike in Northwood.

■The Suncook Valley Sno-Riders December monthly meeting will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. outside at St. George Autobody, 29 High Street in Pittsfield. Trail work party to follow. The group will check the trails in the Garland Road area in Barnstead, as well as some possible bridge work.

■The American Legion Peterson Cram Post 75 will meet on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.

■The Read, Meet, Talk Book Club will meet on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Bicentennial Room of the Community Center.

■The Pittsfield Masonic Lodge is selling Christmas trees in the lot next to Jack’s Pizza on Friday, Saturday and Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or by appointment (call 300-6834). All trees are $35.

■The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a House Decorating and Lighting Contest. Get in the holiday spirit and pull out those house decorations and lights. Help us “Light Up Pittsfield.” Any residence, business or nonprofit in Pittsfield is invited to participate. There is no entry fee and there is one prize of $100! Judging will be on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Registration info will be posted on the Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Call Louie Houle at 848-1553 to register.

■If you are a 501(c)(3), have you heard about the Globe Community Fund? Established by the former fourth-generation family owners of Globe Manufacturing Company in Pittsfield, the donor-advised fund is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The fund’s purpose is to enhance community wellbeing with a focus on the towns of Pittsfield, Barnstead, Epsom, Northwood, Gilmanton and Chichester. For more information and an application, email the fund at GlobeCommunityFund@globefiresuits.com.

■Pittsfield Historical Society 2021 calendars may be purchased at Town Hall or the Josiah Carpenter Library for $15 each. The theme of the calendar is “Before & After” – 28 pictures of old buildings in town and how they have changed. For more information, contact Fuzz Freese at 848-4488.

■Recently the Pittsfield High School Alumni Association sent out its annual newsletter with its yearly request for donations to support the scholarships that are awarded each year to graduating seniors. If you did not receive a newsletter, please send your name and address to the phsalumni@pittsfieldnhschools.org. Donations may be made by going to paypal.com and sending your donation to phsalumni@pittsfieldnhschools.org. Thank you in advance for supporting the PHS Alumni Association.

■Happy birthday wishes to Jeff Miller and Heather Davis on Tuesday. I hope you both enjoy your special day!

■Happy 50th birthday, sugar! I hope you have a great day on Saturday!

ANDREA RIEL

435-6346

pittsfieldtowncrier@hotmail.com