■The Baker Free Library Foundation’s primary annual fundraising campaign started Nov. 29 – “Giving Tuesday.” Please visit the website for further information at bakerfreefoundation.org.
■The Bow Rotary Christmas Tree Sale will run until Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. or until sold out, and they are selling quickly. Last year they sold out in just 10 days.
■The Bow Brawlers is hosting a comedy fundraiser on Dec. 16 at the Bow Community Building, 3 Bow Center Rd. For tickets, to donate or sponsor, visit www.funny4funds.com/events and for more information email bowbrawlerswrestling@gmail.com.
JOYCE KIMBALL
bowcomnews@comcast.net
■You’re invited to Maker’s Mornings, a series of four collage workshops. Sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings at the Dunbarton Congregational Church Vestry across from the town hall. Joyce Ray, author and poet, will facilitate: 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 6, 13 and 20.
■“Gluten Free Baking for Everyone!” with Leslie Cercier. This Zoom program is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Email dunlib@gsinet.net for the Zoom link.
■On Dec. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., volunteers will be attaching red bows to over 200 wreaths at 32 Birchview Dr. If you would like to help, please let Don Larsen know by emailing LarsenMedia@Gmail.com or calling (603) 774-3500. Wreaths Across Dunbarton will be held on the Dunbarton Town Common on Dec.10 at 10 a.m., followed by the placing of wreaths on the graves of Dunbarton Veterans.
■PTO Cookies with Santa, a free community event to kick off the holiday season on Dec. 10 at 10 a.m., at the elementary school. Write letters to Santa, decorate cookies, make reindeer treats, enjoy hot chocolate, play holiday games, win raffle prizes, and free photos with Santa beginning at 10:30 a.m! For more information email dunbartonpto@gmail.com.
■The library’s pick-up bin was moved into the Town Offices at 1011 School St. to keep materials dry. Call 774-3546 for assistance. Pick-up is only until 4 p.m. On Saturdays, the bin will be outside next to the book drop. Library hours were modified for the safety of patrons and staff. Current hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (pick-up until 4 p.m.), Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NORA LEDUC
774-3141
dtowncrier@gmail.com
■Interested in hearing about the proposed changes to the daily student schedule at the Weare Middle School for 2023 to 2024? The public is invited to meetings being offered by the committee studying how to improve the WMS school day making it more productive for our students and staff. Meetings: Dec. 15 from 4 to 5 p.m., Dec. 20 from 5 to 6 p.m., or via Zoom on Dec. 21 from 6 to 7 p.m.
■Congratulations to John Stark High School Girls Volleyball Team members Emma Dobbins (1st Team), Alexis Mandrino (2nd Team), and Alisha Flanagan, D2 Coach of the Year!
TOM DUNN
dunn.t@comcast.net
■Once again you can find beautiful antique sleighs and carriages around Contoocook collecting nonperishable food items for the Hopkinton Food Pantry. Sleighs can be found inside Storms Fitness, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Riverside Pizza, Slusser Center, and Hopkinton Town Library.
■Hopkinton Booster Club Fundraiser. Join us for a cooking class with Chef Nick on Dec. 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Camp Methodios. The cost is $40 per person (snacks and drinks are provided). Sign up by Dec. 12 at Hopkintonbooster@gmail.com.
■Stop by the Hopkinton Historical Society and see our current exhibit, Gather ‘Round: Telling Our History Through Food. We’ll be open on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■Hopkinton Lions Club has Christmas trees that are on sale at the Contoocook Depot from every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Christmas, or until we run out of trees.
■The Merrimack’s Annual Mitten Tree Drive is officially underway. Drop off new, handmade or store-bought mittens, gloves, hats and scarves at any of our locations and for every item we collect, we’ll donate $2 to local food pantries! The Contoocook branch of Merrimack County Savings Bank is located at 35 Kearsarge Ave. Lobby hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
■Every Tuesday, 5% of proceeds from sales at Indigo Blues & Co, Maple Street Mercantile and Witching Hour Provisions will be donated to local Hopkinton non-profits. December recipient is Contoocook Carry Community Fund.
■With this year’s dramatic rise in heating costs, your support for Operation Holidays is especially needed. Community donations will help ensure that every family in our town has a bright holiday season. For those wishing to help, checks should be made out to Hopkinton Human Services (memo line/Operation Holidays) and mailed to Hopkinton Human Services Department, 330 Main St., Hopkinton, NH 03229.
■Come join the Hopkinton Recreation Committee volunteers on Dec. 10, come decorate gingerbread houses with the Recreation Department. Spaces are limited so please register online early to secure your spot. This program fills up quickly! Full details are online at www.HopkintonRec.com.
■The Contoocook Artisans Holiday Craft Fair will be held in the E.W. Montgomery Event Center at American Legion Post #81, located at 169 Bound Tree Rd., Contoocook. This annual craft fair features 35 juried artisans and will be held on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please find Contoocook Artisans on Facebook for more information.
■Starry Starry Weekend will be on Dec. 2, 3 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) to Dec. 4 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Stroll through Contoocook Village, shop our local stores and pop-up shops, relish the holiday lights aglow, take in the sounds of joyful holiday music, enjoy the beer garden, join us for a Magic Evening in the Park, and soak in the holiday cheer! More information is at www.contoocookchamber.com/.
■This month’s Hopkinton Town Library Book Group selection is The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. The Book Group discussion will be held on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Local History Room and via Zoom.
■Social Emotional Learning Backpacks are available to check out at the Hopkinton Town Library. These are assembled backpacks for families to borrow filled with books, activities, resource recommendations and games supporting healthy and age appropriate social emotional development
KATHLEEN BUTCHER
724-3452
kathb123@comcast.net
■On Dec. 2 and 3, the Warner Historical Society hosts Holiday Artisans at Upton Chandler House as part of Warner Hometown Holidays. Open Friday night from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■Warner Hometown Holidays is coming the weekend of Dec. 2! On Saturday, come to Town Hall to enjoy the Festival of Trees, and other activities. The Holiday Farmer’s Market will be held on the lower level starting at 9 a.m., the Kearsarge Conservatory of the Performing Arts will present The Gingerbread Man at 11 a.m. (free) and get your photo with Mr. and Mrs. Santa (1:30 p.m.).
■On Dec. 3, Warner Connects NH Resource Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Family Closet Thrift Boutique will provide a $5 shopping voucher for use in the store that day and a free stuffed animal (while supplies last) with the donation of non-perishable, non-expired food items. The Food Pantry will host an Open House from 10 a.m. to noon, offering tours, so you can see your donations at work.
■On Dec. 3, MainStreetBookEnds has extended shopping hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Join them for holiday children’s-book readings in the Gallery by the fire. Warner children’s authors will be signing their books: David Elliott from 11 a m. to 12:30 p.m., and Matt Forrest Esenwine from 2 to 4 p.m.
■On Dec. 3, the Pillsbury Free Library features Storytime with winter stories at 10 a.m., as well as a make-and-take craft event from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
■On Dec. 3 Gear Up Homeschoolers sing carols around Warner starting at Town Hall at 12:30 p.m. and traveling between Town Hall and the Library. At 5:30 p.m., Peg Chaffee and Cheryl Sager will host caroling on the lawn of the MainStreet Warner, Inc. Lodge (behind the monument).
■On Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the NH Telephone Museum holds a Polar Express day. Regular admission fee applies.
■On Dec. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m., Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum hosts a Snow Snake Making Workshop. For more information and to register, visit www.indianmuseum.org.
■On Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m., the Magdalen College Choir presents A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The service will be held at the College at 511 Kearsarge Mountain Rd., free and open to the public.
■Support Warner Historical Society by purchasing Holiday Raffle tickets online at Holiday Raffle or by visiting www.warnerhistorical.org! Winners will be announced at 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Upton Chandler House.
■On Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., American Legion Post 39 (Wilkins-Cloues-Bigelow-Pearson Post 39) will meet in the lower part of the NH Telephone Museum. Come see how you can help other local Veterans, make some friends or find out about helpful programs for Vets. For more information, contact Charles at cetrowbridge1948@gmail.com.
■Donate blood in Warner on Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the United Church of Warner. To sign up or for more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
■Warner Historical Society’s Holiday Barn Sale will be open on Dec. 11 and 18 at the Upton Chandler House.
Elibet Chase
warnertowncrier@gmail.com