Horror Fiction Fest and Poetry Society open mic at Gibson’s next week

Two exciting events will take place at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord next week.

Love and chocolate: a look inside Granite State Candy Shoppe

By RACHEL WACHMAN

From heart-shaped chocolates and candies with love messages to pink and red gummies and flower-adorned confections, Valentine’s Day at Granite State Candy Shoppe is quite the occasion.

Rescheduled: Pembroke Town Library hosts Civil War monument presentation

Throughout New Hampshire, towns, individuals, and veterans’ organizations have erected an assortment of memorials to the Civil War. Beginning with obelisks of the 1860s and continuing onto re-mastered works of the 21st century, historian George Morrison of Bow will present a diverse selection of New Hampshire’s commemorations and their stories at a presentation at the Pembroke Town Library. However, the event, originally scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., has been postponed due to incoming inclement weather, with a new date to be set soon.

Art of Azalea Park: Henniker students draw inspiration from nature in exhibit at Tucker Free Library

Last fall, fifth and sixth grade students at the Henniker Community School studied the art of illustration. They learned about the works of Helen Oxenbury, Dr. Seuss, and Shel Silverstein to gather knowledge about ink style, use of color, and background. At the beginning of the project, the students took a walking field trip down through Azalea Park to gather inspiration for their next art project.

Concord Garden Club announces Art & Bloom awardees

The Concord Garden Club is pleased to announce the winners of its People’s Choice Awards from the annual Art & Bloom exhibition, held at the Kimball Jenkins Estate at the end of January. Each year, club members and local florists create displays to complement artwork created by members of the community.

Scholarship opportunities: garden clubs, aerospace camp, and more

The New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs will award two college scholarships this year – a $2000 New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Scholarship and the Jean L. Thompson Scholarship, established in her honor by her daughters, Lindsay Thompson and Elizabeth Thompson, for the amount of $1000. They will be awarded to undergraduate (sophomores, juniors or seniors) or graduate students attending an accredited two- or four- year college or university listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education.

Two Villages Art Society to feature ‘Photosynthesis: Portraits of the Wild’

Dotty Holcomb Doherty’s photography exhibit, "Photosynthesis: Portraits of the Wild," will run from Feb. 15 to March 15 at Two Villages Art Society, located at 846 Main Street in Hopkinton.

Vintage Views: A box full of buttons

By JAMES W. SPAIN

When I was a young child, many decades ago, I would visit my nana here in Concord. She was a gifted seamstress who was always working on different projects and who utilized her craft to engage me at every chance she got. In time, she learned that my attention could be held captive by her prized collection of buttons.

Homeyer: Spring is on its way

Here in Cornish Flat, this seems like an old-fashioned winter. Temperatures have been consistently below freezing, and the ground has had at least a light covering of snowmost of the time. No deep snow, the kind that insulates the ground and keeps tender perennials safe, but enough to soothe the eyes when looking at the landscape.

Take Me Outside: Snowbirds in Reverse

Community Players of Concord to present ‘The Gods of Comedy’

The Community Players of Concord will present Ken Ludwig’s “The Gods of Comedy” from Feb. 14-16 at the Concord City Auditorium.

Local preservation and history enthusiasts to gather at Kimball Jenkins Estate

A group of Concord residents will host an informal networking gathering on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Kimball Jenkins Mansion to celebrate local historic preservation successes, connect with others, and share ideas for future activities and events.

NH Furniture Masters Association holds ‘Founders Exhibition’

Six furniture makers joined together three decades ago to form the NH Furniture Masters Association, creating a new space to share their craft with the world. The organization and its members have helped shape the growth and evolution of the studio furniture movement. To celebrate their contributions, the Furniture Masters Association is holding a “Founders Exhibition” showcasing the work of its original six members – Brian Braskie, Lenore Howe, David Lamb, Terry Moore, Jere Osgood and Bill Thomas – and kicking off a year of exhibitions and events culminating in the group’s autumn show at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester.

John Stark students participate in busy music festival season

By RACHEL WACHMAN

The music festival season kicked off last month for students at John Stark Regional High School in Weare. Several band and choral musicians attended the 20th annual Granite State Invitational Music Festival on Jan. 9 alongside students from several other New Hampshire schools. John Stark students also participated in the Chamber Festival at the University of New Hampshire on Jan. 11.

Paul Tuller presents ‘Japanese House in New Hampshire: A Long Story’ for speaker series

On Feb. 7 at 5 p.m., the Jaffrey Civic Center will present the fifth program in this season’s “Stories to Share” series. The speaker will be longtime woodworker Paul Tuller, who will offer a talk entitled “Japanese House in New Hampshire, a Long Journey.”

Mocktails on Main Street: A fun exploration of downtown non-alcoholic drinks

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Whether you’re celebrating Dry January, don’t drink alcohol, or simply love fun drinks, mocktails could be the answer you’ve been waiting for. A good mocktail provides not only an alternative to alcohol but something to sip on, to savor, to feel like you’re part of the party.

$2.5M grant to reinvigorate Canterbury Shaker Village

Canterbury Shaker Village has received a $2,500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. The grant will support the Village’s reinvigoration of its on-site and online interpretive experiences to emphasize the history and culture of the Shaker faith at the core of its visitor engagement strategy.

Grab some binoculars and start counting: NH Audubon annual bird survey taking place Feb. 8-9.

NH Audubon is calling on all nature enthusiasts and bird lovers to participate in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey, a unique opportunity to contribute valuable data from your own backyard to help track New Hampshire’s winter bird populations. Scheduled for Feb. 8 and 9, the survey is open to participants all across the state. Whether you are a seasoned birder or just starting to learn to identify the birds in your backyard, the survey is fun for all ages.

Things look nice and icy for February events

By ADAM DRAPCHO

If you were in charge of an ice fishing derby, a sled dog race or a pond hockey tournament, few words would warm your heart as much as the phrase “arctic blast.” That’s exactly what the region has been experiencing since the start of January, and it has brought smiles to the faces of those who organize some of the Lakes Region’s iconic winter activities.

Vintage views: Concord’s very first bookmobile

By JAMES W. SPAIN

My first experience with a library dates back over five decades. It is one of my favorite memories from my very early years – one that I have grasped and held onto, one that I will never let go.