■The Penacook Village Association will host the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting ceremony on Nov. 30, at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees can assemble around 5:30 p.m. to hear carols and singing featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus and Blanchard Family Singers, and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.
CHERYL STINSON
news03303@aol.com
■The 37th annual Concord Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on Nov. 25 at the State House/City Plaza, North Main Street with activities starting at 4 p.m. This year’s festivities will include Santa, music, hot chocolate and cider, children’s events, entertainment, fireworks, and more. At the event, donations will be accepted of non-perishable food items or unwrapped toys to put into the stuff a cruiser program. Financial donations can be made by calling (603) 848-0221.
■The GoodLife Programs and Activities is partnering with Concord Housing Authority, once again to provide a little brightness and holiday cheer for seniors in the Concord community! The Giving Tree will be at GoodLife (254 N. State St.) and all will be welcome to come in and choose a tag from the tree that has a senior’s Christmas wish on it. All gifts will need to be returned by Dec. 14, and deliveries to recipients will be between Dec. 19 to 23 by Bishop Brady student volunteers. For more information, call (603) 228-6630.
■Bagged leaf collection will begin on Monday. Bulk leaf collection will continue as weather permits through Dec. 9. Residents that participate in bulk leaf collection are asked 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 (603) 228-3727 or visit www.concordnh.gov/545/Leaf-Collection.
■The Concord Public Library (45 Green St.) is offering a Preschool Storytime on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This class includes stories, fingerplays, and songs, all designed to strengthen children’s reading or pre-reading skills. Space is limited so register by going to onconcord.gov. For more information, call (603) 225-8670.
■The NH Army National Guard and the Pierce Brigade will hold the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the grave site of President Franklin Pierce in the Old North Cemetery on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The wreath, sent by the sitting President of the United States, honors President Pierce and commemorates his 218th birthday. A reception with light refreshments will follow at the Pierce Manse (14 Horseshoe Pond Lane). Members of the public are invited to attend. For more information, call Joan at (603) 224-1819.
■There will be no trash and recycling collected on Thursday due to the holiday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday’s routes will be collected as usual. Thursday’s route will be picked up on Friday and Friday’s route will be picked up on Saturday.
■Happy 95th birthday to my father Paul Anderson!
LYNDA PLANTE
717-1632
soxpatscats@gmail.com
■Give thanks on Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary’s, 180 Loudon Rd., Thanksgiving Mass at 9 a.m.
■The Concord Writers Group now has openings for a few more serious writers. If you would like honest feedback on your writing projects, this group offers just that. Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Concord Public Library. For more information, call Barbara at (603) 456-6052.
■The Undaunted Professor Harp brings Blues Music to Area 23, 254 N. State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center) at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
■New Hampshire’s elite handbell ensemble joins us this season to ring in the holidays on Nov. 30 at 8:30 p.m. at the City Auditorium. Since its founding in 2007, Granite State Ringers has expanded its impact, offering education programs for children and adults and using its talents to support communities in need. GSR’s 2022 holiday concert features traditional seasonal favorites and selections from The Nutcracker with visual and musical artistry not to be missed!
■Concord Family Center Program at Mill Brook Family Center, 53 S. Curtisville Rd., invites children ages birth to five years old and their caregivers are invited to play, do crafts, have snacks, and more with other local families! This educational, fun time will be led by an early childhood teacher on Nov. 29 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The cost is free and there’s no registration. Just show up! Call Laurie Hart at 230-1532!
■The Bishop Brady Galloping Gobbler happens on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Bib Pick Up is at 8 a.m. at 25 Columbus Ave. Come join Bishop Brady High School present its annual Galloping Gobbler event, Concord’s community Thanksgiving Road Race. This four-mile walk/run is just the thing to work off that Thanksgiving dinner. All are welcome! The cost is $30 for ages 16 and up, and $20 for ages 15 and under. Visit raceroster.com/events/2022/65771/galloping-gobbler-4-miler to register in advance.
■Andrew Brewis will be sharing his eight hymns from our silver hymnal and their backstories, playing music from his new album entitled HOME at First Church of Christ on Sunday at 3 p.m. The concert will be streamed at www.christianscienceconcordnh.org. Go to the website and click “online service” scroll to bottom of the page and click on the picture of the podium/organ. The cost is free. There is free parking on the street, in the parking garage (State Street) and the Attorney General’s office (School Street) For more information, please call Betsy at (603) 315-3401.
■Kick your Thanksgiving off by saving a life and donating blood! Go on Wednesday at 9 a.m. to the IBEW Local Union 490, 48 Airport Rd. All donors who come to give blood will receive an exclusive Red Cross knit beanie!
■City offices will be closed on Nov. 24 and 25 due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Trash and recycling collection for Monday through Wednesday will follow its normal collection schedule. The collection for Thursday will be postponed to Friday. Friday’s collection will be postponed to Saturday.
■Join the Tree Lighting on Nov. 25, along with lighting up the sky with fireworks just remember the Street Closures. The following streets will be closed: Main Street from Centre Street to School Street; N. State Street, from Park Street to Capitol Street; Park Street from Main Street to N. State Street; and Capitol Street from Main Street to N. State Street from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
■I am so thankful for my near-perfect spouse, my creative kid, a happy home and you, our readers! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and don’t forget the giving thanks part!
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com