■The Friends of Forgotten Children food pantry located at 224 Bog Road in Concord serves 23 towns in Merrimack County and Allenstown is one of them. They are open on Thursdays from 9-11:15 a.m. and 12-7 p.m. A household can come once a month for food. During COVID-19, the pantry is not verifying income eligibility. First-time clients should bring proof of residency for each member of the household. Clients do not come into the building. Call 753-4801 upon arrival and someone will take your information and bring your food outside. There is also a clothing pantry.
■Pine Haven Boys Center is participating in the NexTrex plastic film recycling challenge. The center will earn a plastic bench if it can collect a minimum of 500 pounds of soft plastic. The center is looking for produce bags, store bags, ice bags, zip-locs, bread bags, cereal box liners, newspaper sleeves and bubble wrap. For more information, contact Prudy at prudence-gagne@comcast.net or call 485-3113. You may drop plastic off at the St. John the Baptist Church office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
■The Suncook Senior Center has a Grab and Go Meal Program on Mondays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and noon. Seniors are welcome to come and pick up five meals provided by Community Action. Call Michele in advance at 485-4254 to reserve these meals. Please do not come into the building. Staff will bring the food out to you.
CLAUDETTE VERVILLE
485-4437
cverville2@comcast.net
■A board of selectmen meeting will be held on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Meeting Room.
■It’s time to register your child for kindergarten or first grade! Epsom Central School will be holding registration and screenings for incoming kindergarten students for the 2021-22 school year on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4-5 p.m., and on April 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. Please call the main office at 736-9331 to schedule your child’s 45-minute block of time for either of these screenings.
■New Hampshire state law requires that all dogs age four months or older be licensed each year. Dog licenses must be renewed by April 30 of each year. A $1 late fee per month will begin June 1. You can register your pup online on the town website.
■As of March 8, all Class V roads which are maintained by the Town of Epsom and all Class VI roads have a maximum weight limit of six tons. During the first weeks of the posting, the road agent will work with contractors to allow vehicles over the six ton weight limit on the posted roads, if conditions permit. If you should have any questions, contact the Road Agent Scott Elliott at 545-4302.
■Epsom Public Library is open for curbside pickup only on Mondays through Thursdays from 1-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■Happy birthday Melanie Paskavitch on Monday, Gail Davis on Tuesday, Donna Splendore and Steve DeStefano on Wednesday, and Patrick Clarke, Jill Gelinas and Jennifer Nolin on Saturday! Have great celebrations!
TERRY RIEL
rielt397@gmail.com
■A weekly Lego Club for kids ages 6 and up will start April 7 at the Pembroke Town Library. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Registration is required. Please call Marie at 485-7851.
JOCELYN CARLUCCI
485-3352
taihi@comcast.net
■First Congregational Church, 24 Main St., will hold a Palm Sunday service on Sunday at 10 a.m. The JuBellation Handbell Choir will provide special music and palms will be distributed. A special Maundy Thursday worship service, including Holy Communion, commemorating the “Last Supper” of Jesus, will be held April 1 at 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday, April 4, the traditional Easter worship service will be held at 10 a.m. There will be no sunrise service or Easter breakfast this year. Please wear a mask, stay distanced and follow ushers’ instructions for all services. There is additional parking, as well as a wheelchair-accessible entrance, at the rear of the church on Chestnut Street. For more information about any of these services, call the church office at 435-7471 and speak with Rev. David Stasiak.
■Spring season has arrived for PMHS sports. Tryouts will be held Monday and Tuesday in the gymnasium at PMHS, or outside if the weather allows. Middle school baseball (grades 6-8) will meet 3-4 p.m., varsity baseball (grades 9-12) will meet 4-6 p.m. and middle school and varsity softball (grades 6-12) will meet 6-8 p.m. Register for baseball and softball at tshq.bluesombrero.com/pittsfieldbaseball. Contact pittsfieldyouthbaseball@gmail.com with questions.
■Pittsfield Elementary School staff will hold an open house for incoming kindergartners on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This open house provides an opportunity for you and your child to meet with a kindergarten teacher, check on your required paperwork with the school counselor and nurse, and explore the school building! Future kindergartners also will receive a Panther goodie bag and officially become part of the PES family. There will also be an opportunity to get help with the registration paperwork if you need it. Families will need to register for a time in order to make sure all health and safety guidelines are followed. Contact the school at 435-8432 to register for a time. Virtual conferences will be available with school staff as well if you do not feel comfortable visiting the building.
■A 4-H Community Service Project, led by Jeremiah Chapman, is requesting donations that benefit folks who utilize Meals on Wheels. Items requested are: size 9 or 10 manila envelopes, books, birthday cards, stamps, puzzle books (preferably word searches and crosswords), individually wrapped snacks, coffee, tea, baskets of any size and small gift items (such as pens and pads of paper). Donations may be dropped off at the Josiah Carpenter Library until June 1.
■Dog licenses for 2021 are available. Please register your dogs by April 30. There are a number of options to register your dogs: online through the “dog licenses” link on the town website home page (pittsfieldnh.gov), in person at Town Hall, by mail, or by the drop box located to the right of the Town Hall door. More information can be found on the town clerk/tax collector page on the town website.
■Catamount Womenaid is a volunteer, women-led nonprofit founded in 2011, whose mission is to provide those in need with immediate, short-term financial assistance not available from other resources. Requests for assistance are submitted by a “validator” (a trustworthy source in the community). Catamount Womenaid serves people in Pittsfield, Deerfield, Epsom, Strafford and Northwood. Money is raised through various fundraising efforts. For more information, please visit catamountwomenaid.org.
■Did you know Josiah Carpenter Library is open for in-person visits? Current hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curbside pickup and home deliveries are still options. Call 435-8406 to learn more.
■The Pittsfield Early Childhood Collaborative (ECC) is a group of Pittsfield organizations that work together to support young children and their families. The ECC maintains two small, free libraries inside the Danis and Bell Brothers laundromats. The libraries have children’s books and simple toys that families can use inside the laundromat or take home for free. If you would like to donate, please bring your donations to the Josiah Carpenter Library.
■A very special happy birthday wish to Aunt Ethel Cochrane on Sunday! I hope you enjoy your special day.
ANDREA RIEL
435-6346
pittsfieldtowncrier@hotmail.com