PENACOOKFood pantry

■The United Church of Penacook Food Pantry, serving Penacook residents only, is open every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., year-round. If Penacook Elementary/Merrimack Valley School District is closed due to weather, the pantry will also be closed. Visitors coming to the pantry are allowed two bags of groceries and one bag of personal care items every two weeks, unless extra food is available or an emergency situation comes up.

CHERYL STINSON

news03303@aol.com

WEST SIDESinging valentines

■The Concord Historic Society will be featuring a talk by Charlie Sawyer on Feb. 9 with a performance by Charlie’s band, 2120 S Michigan Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Both of these events will take place on the grounds of Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St.). For more information, go to concordhistoricalsociety.org.

■Looking for ideas for Valentine’s Day? Concord Coachmen Chorus is offering the best gift ever, in-person singing valentines! One of their dapper quartets will deliver a red rose and then serenade your special Valentine with two perfect love songs along with a photograph to remember this special day. The Covid safe in-person deliveries will be on Feb. 14 in and around Concord. The cost is $50. For more information or to secure a spot, visit concordcoachmen.org.

■There is still time to place an order and enjoy a Greek Meal from the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St.) with pick up on Feb. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. The February meal to-go is a Greek Beef Stew with orzo, Greek salad and a dinner roll. You can order your meal by email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com, by phone (603) 953-3051, or online holytrinitynh.org. The cost of the meal is $20 and the ordering deadline is Wednesday.

■Visit the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers’ Market (7 Eagle Sq.) on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the enclosed atrium. A wide selection of local goods will be offered, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, treats, soap, crafts, and more. Enjoy live music while you shop with your favorite local farmers and producers. For more information, email dcwfm2020@gmail.com.

■The Concord Public Library (45 Green St.) is offering Crafternoon on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. Learn and create crafts to bring home! This program is for eight to 10 year old children and will take place in the Blanchard Room. Be sure to register as supplies are limited at concordpubliclibrary.net/librarycalendar. For more information, call (603) 225-8670.

■Join in on the public ice skating at the Everett Arena. Skating hours will be Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6, and kids ages three and under are free. Skate rentals will be available in the pro shop for $6. For more information, call (603) 228-2784.

■Happy 18th birthday to my son Jacob Plante and happy 60th birthday to my sister Brenda Morse!

LYNDA PLANTE

717-1632

soxpatscats@gmail.com

SOUTH ENDOscar Party Fundraiser

■Red River Theatres’ Red Carpet Oscar Party Fundraiser returns on March 11! Join them for a glamorous evening of walking the red carpet, delicious food, and major competition! For now, save the date and start strategizing because you will want to win the big prize and the title of Movie Trivia Champion!

■Join Peggo and Paul Hodes on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. for their traditional Valentine’s Day Bach’s [sic] Lunch, “Until the End of Time.” It features their longtime collaborator Kent Allyn and their daughter Ariana, an alum of CCMS and a Nashville-based singer-songwriter. The ensemble will also honor two folk legends who recently passed by performing Roseville Fair by Bill Staines, and a medley from our very own Dave Surette (and Susie Burke), Give Me One More Day and Time Marches On.

■The Bach’s Lunch Lecture on Feb. 16 at 12:10 p.m. is “Music for Resilience.” In this lecture, music therapist, Julieann Hartley, will share how we can use music to develop emotional and physical resilience using basic music therapy principles. Bach’s Lunch Programs are free and open to the public on the first and second Thursdays of each month, October through June, in the Music School’s Recital Hall, 23 Wall St.. No need to RSVP, just show up!

■There’s no better way to get in the Mardi Gras mindset than with the Soggy Po’ Boys, performing in the Music School Recital Hall on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. and featuring CCMS faculty member Eric Klaxton and former CCMS faculty and alumni Scott Kiefner. Tickets can be purchased for $15 online at ccmusicschool.org, by calling us at (603) 228-1196, or in-person at the Music School.

■Elissa R Sloan returns to Gibson’s Bookstore on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., for her second virtual event, with her second novel, Hayley Aldridge is Still Here! From the author of The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes comes yet another sharp, page-turning novel about a forgotten child star and former Hollywood “It” Girl who is now fighting back against the conservatorship that has controlled her life for the past decade. Registration is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/492914800437.

■Go to a free talk from a Nutritional Pharmacist and learn all about bones and how to care for them! On Saturday, “Building Stronger Bones Through All Ages” is at the Natural Wellness Corner, 239 Loudon Rd., Suite 1A, at 9 a.m. Learn all about bones and how to care for them! Whether you’re a young adult in peak bone-building age, or a retiree with bone thinning, you’ll learn how to properly care for your bones at any phase of life.

■NH Retail Association’s 57th Annual Meeting and Legislative/Member Luncheon happens on Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. This is your chance to personally meet legislators and let them know what you need to continue to grow and prosper in the coming year! It’s at the Holiday Inn Concord Downtown, 172 North Main St. Enjoy a delicious gourmet sandwich buffet while connecting with colleagues and community leaders! Your engagement in this important event ensures that the NH Retail Association can continue to provide services to our members such as full-time legislative advocacy, valuable membership benefits such as workers’ compensation coverage, a Retail 401K program, credit card processing services, and so much more.

■Here is a first-time homebuying workshop for all newcomers to homeownership! It’s on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. Go to 499 North Main St., where light refreshments will be served including pizza. This is the go-to workshop for anyone looking to buy a home in 2023. We will have local industry professionals (mortgage lenders, realtors and home inspectors) talking about getting pre-approved, loan programs, down payment options, home searching and much more. Additionally, they will be available through the evening to answer all your questions!

■This Saturday’s class at 11 a.m. is sweet! Chef Jake’s workshop for kids at the Concord Food Co-op will teach the basic tempering, dipping, and decorating techniques to make some yummy chocolate-covered treats (including strawberry ladybugs and pretzels)! Registration for “Chocolate 101: Berry Sweet!” is $20 per child, and all proceeds will be donated to the New Hampshire Children’s Trust.

■As we get older, we might start thinking about making changes to our living situation. Whether we’re contemplating heading south for warmer weather, discussing moving in with family, or taking up residence in a condo or older adult community; this transition may involve many factors including the question of what to do with an existing home. Join us for this session on Wednesday at 11 a.m. as they discuss tips for making big decisions about when and where to move, things to consider, helpful resources and actions to take along the way. Bring your questions and be prepared for a lively discussion. The cost/registration is free! You must register by Tuesday at noon. GoodLife will email you the Zoom link a day or two before the class. Registrations made online will be for live classes via Zoom!

■Charlie Sawyer grew up on a farm in Concord, attended the Scully school and graduated from Concord High. When he left Concord, he became good friends with Blues legend, BB King. He will share some stories about growing up, like the time he killed a cat and the time he met Estes Kefauver. On Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St., he will also share some of his many memories about BB King, as well as talk about his photos of BB that are on display.

■The Merrimack River is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. During the 19th century, mills in cities such as Manchester and Lowell, Massachusetts, harnessed the power of the river to become the largest manufacturing plants in the world. Like many rivers in America, the Merrimack was heavily polluted as a result of industrial growth. Thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Merrimack has been cleaned up considerably over the last 50 years. Remarkably, more than 80% of the Merrimack watershed is still undeveloped and largely forested. However, in 2016, it was named one of the most endangered rivers in the United States by the nonprofit American Rivers. Registrations made online will be for live classes via Zoom! The cost is $5 and you must register by Feb. 14 at noon for the Feb. 15 presentation at 1 p.m. GoodLife will email you the Zoom link a day or two before the class.

■Join us for a monthly bereavement group facilitated by bereavement counselors from Bayada Hospice, with approximately one hour of structured, educational time and one hour of open discussion and socialization time. February’s theme is Grief on Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. No need to register, just drop in, but feel free to contact Jodi Plitman, bereavement coordinator with Bayada Hospice, at (603) 724-6689 or Jplitman@bayada.com with any questions. This happens at GoodLife Programs & Activities, 254 N State St.

JEAN VER HOEVEN

856-304-5830

jeanann@voicenet.com

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