Allenstown

Allenstown public Hearing on Town and School Budget will be held on Jan. 11, at 9 a.m. at Allenstown Elementary School, 30 Main St.

2025 Declaration of Candidate Filing Dates will be from Jan. 25-31. at the Allenstown Town Hall, 16 School St.

Saint John the Baptist Community Table is held on Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. at the Parish Hall, 10 School St. They will be serving a meatloaf dinner.

Parish Nurse health counseling, and blood pressure screening on Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Parish Hall.

Meals on Wheels drivers are needed. As a driver, you will deliver midday meals to seniors at their homes. Drivers are needed for approximately four hours a day. No experience is necessary. Requires own transportation and vehicle insurance. If you are interested please call Carol at 603 485-4254.

The Suncook Senior Center will be following the Allenstown School system during the winter snow season. If Allenstown calls for a delay, then the senior center will be delayed. If the school is closed then the senior center will be closed. If there is a two-hour delay and your program starts at 9 a.m., then that program will be canceled since the center will not open until 10 a.m.

Activities include: Bone Builders is held at 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday; Bingo is held from 10 a.m to noon on Monday and Thursday; Klunk is held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; Cribbage Club is held from 10:15 a.m. to noon on Tuesday; Chair Yoga is held from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday and the cost is $5; Hand, Foot, and Elbow is held from 10:15 to noon on Tuesday; arts and crafts is held from 10 a.m to noon on Wednesday.

Boscawen

Mark your calendars! Bingo for adults returns on Jan. 12 at Alan’s Restaurant. For $10 per person, you can enjoy lunch at 1 p.m. and stay for an afternoon of fun and games until 3:30 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Old Home Day activities and there are no prizes.

The Town of Boscawen Select Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 8. They will review a NH Housing Finance Authority grant reimbursement in the amount of $31,395 for the InvestNH Municipal Planning and Zoning Grant Program. The grant creates an unanticipated revenue in excess of $10,000 and requires a public hearing as per the statutes.

Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante, a novel by Susan Elia Macneal, will be the topic of the book discussion meeting at the Boscawen Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. The novel’s setting is December 1941 in Washington, D.C when special agent Maggie Hope uncovers a shocking conspiracy that could jeopardize American support for the war. Additional copies of the novel are available whether you are able to attend the meeting or not.

Hilda’s Food Pantry at Boscawen Congregational Church, staffed by church and community volunteers, is a resource to local families facing food insecurity. The pantry relies on steady donations of food, hygiene products and monetary gifts. The pantry is open on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon or when the church is open for worship. Have a need and want to reach someone at the food pantry? Call Hilda’s Food Pantry at (603)-451-7406. Donations can be done online at https://www.boscawencongregationalchurch.com/food-pantry.html.Or mailed to the Boscawen Congregational Church Food Pantry, 12 High St., Boscawen, NH 03303.

Bow

The Young At Heart Club will be meeting Jan, 8 at the Bow Old Town Hall, 91 Bow Center Road from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. where a representative from the Bow School District will be discussing the new and exciting things happening at the schools and ways for community members to get more involved. Bring your own lunch and the presentation shall begin at 12:30 p.m. For more information about the club and joining them for their meetings (guests are always welcome) or how to become a member contact Peter Cherici at (603) 774-7682 or email at fairfield_a@hotmail.com

The Bow Garden Club invites you to join in 2025 as they plan educational programs and beautify the town of Bow. Membership is $25 and applications are available on its website at https://bowgardenclub.org. No need to be a great gardener, come learn with them about gardening and nature. Their next program will be held on April 14 at the Baker Free Library, on “What’s Wild in New Hampshire” presented by Eric Orff. Registration will be on the library website starting in March.

Bow High School Junior Dominic Catalfimo was recently selected to participate in the 2025 National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Honors Ensembles Festival in Connecticut. There were over 2,000 applicants and he was one of only 13 musicians throughout the East Coast selected to perform for this music festival. Dominic will not just be representing Bow High School but will be proudly representing the state of New Hampshire. Congratulations Dom.

Chichester

The Board of Selectmen is seeking a part-time town hall floater in the selectmen office with up to 20 hours available. Knowledge of secretarial skills, basic accounting and good communication skills. Complete job description available at town hall.

The cemetery trustees will be meeting on Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. at the Historical Society Building. The BOS will meet for a regular monthly meeting on Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at town hall. The Historical Society will meet on Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. and welcome the public in planning activities for 2025.

The Pittsfield Senior Center is closed with building issues. Chichester residents who attend the center should contact the center for updated information on opening for 2025.

The Chichester Fire/Rescue responded to several emergencies over Christmas taking them away from their families. The dedicated members responded with valuable equipment with mutual support to area towns. Rescue 2 provided assistance in Barnstead and provided rehabilitation and SCBA bottle air filling support. Members and equipment assisted Boscawen with a commercial building fire. Thank You to the Chichester Fire/Rescue members who left families to assist with calls and duty crew who was not with their families. Stop by the safety building and thank our members and take a tour of this vital building in our town. In 2024 the department had a busy year responding to 610 calls for service, 63 more calls than 2023. The department is wishing you a safe and joyful 2025.

The School Board will hold its first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 8at 6 p.m. at the school. The Parks and Recreation Committee will meet at town hall on Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The Chichester Grange will meet on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at their meeting room located at town hall. The meeting will be lead by Kevin Belval as Master. The Grange is a national organization with several granges in NH. Chichester Grange is a small group but dedicated to the greatness of its community by the compassionate actions of its members and look forward to new activities in 2025. An open house is planned in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The Chichester community can thank the Grange for the landscaping at Memorial Park. Dictionaries were given to third graders in seven area schools. The Grange earned blue ribbons at both the Hopkinton and Deerfield fairs. Financial donations were made to several charitable organizations. Please consider joining the Grange in 2025 and become involved with the works of the Grange. Stop by to their meeting on Jan. 15 and learn how to become a member.

Pembroke Academy varsity boys basketball team competed in the Capitol City Holiday Basketball Tournament. Chichester’s Evan Berkeley held the honor of most valuable player and received recognition and came home with a trophy.

Chichester is remembering Janice Yeaton and Dorothy Hussey in fond memory since their passing within the past week of each other. Janice was 95 years old. Prior to her retirement, she had been a registered nurse at Concord Hospital and Epsom Healthcare Center. She dedicated herself to the Chichester Methodist Church. Dorothy was 100 years old and enjoyed her life on the Lane Farm in her early years. Dot was a recipient of the Boston Post Cane in Chichester and was a member of the Chichester Historical Society. Dot was a 4-H Club leader with many coming to the farm and learning about horsemanship. Sympathy is given to both families.

Concord

On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 South Main St., Llewellyn Worldwide author Sally Cragin will discuss the annual Moon Sign Almanac and speak about the new and full moon phases in 2025. The phases of the moon govern the height and intensity of tides and are helpful for taking many actions in life.

Next on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s, NH author and social media powerhouse Peg Fitzpatrick presents The Art of Small Business Social Media: A Blueprint for Marketing Success, an essential guide for small business owners. Recognizing that social media isn’t a one-size-fits-all tool, Fitzpatrick provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to navigate the digital landscape effectively.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church presents their $20 Meal To-Go Fundraiser for January. Order by Wednesday at www.holytrinitynh.org or 603-953-3051 or ordermygreekfood@gmail.com. Plan to pick up a fantastic roast pork, roast potatoes and carrots dinner on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 68 N. State St. Feb. 9 will be meatballs, rice, salad, roll and dessert and March 9, it’s shrimp souvlaki and pasta.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m., let’s escape winter and take a trip to the isles together. We’ll explore islands off the coast of Italy, France, Croatia and more and the wines that are made there. What are the indigenous grapes for which the islands are known? You will taste some very unique offerings, so you definitely don’t want to miss it. For Tuesday’s waitlist, please call (603) 897-5828. For Wednesday tickets, go to https://tinyurl.com/4nzxdu2p. The cost is $35 per person and includes six wines, light snacks, and fun education at Wine on Main, 9 N. Main St.

Dr. Beth Ann Jacques offers Free Hearing Screenings on Tuesdays, 4 to 5 p.m. at GoodLife facilities at 254 North State St. Please call to schedule an appointment: 603-228-6630.

Discover NHTI at the Winter Open House, 31 College Drive, on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.! Learn from our faculty, students, and staff how a student-centered campus offers challenging academic programs, the support to help you meet your educational and career goals and a vibrant campus environment. Register at https://www.nhti.edu/admissions/events/.

Go to the Library, 45 Green St and start 2025 off with some fun!

On Friday at 2 p.m., see the action-packed 2024 PG-13 film, Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers springs back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/3av23xrx.

Learn all about chocolate, taste-test different varieties and brands, and play candy bar trivia on Monday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. Teens and Tweens Chocolate Tasting is sure to be a sweet night for ages 10-17. Register at https://tinyurl.com/mvra9ez9.

Shake, Rattle, and Roll! Join the music, fun, and creative movement with special guest, Miss Julieann on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m.! For toddler through preschool-age children with their caregivers. Recommended for ages 0-5. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/2dsv6mnd.

Join Organized Chaos for some weekly wackiness every second and fourth Tuesday at 4 p.m.! This group is for kids 10-14 years old. On Jan. 14, it’s Giant Guess Who! Register at https://tinyurl.com/4tv83vm3.

On Saturday, Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore, it’s storytime as they welcome NH authors David Preece and Jim Webber in to share their two picturebooks, A Home for Mr. Higgins, and Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand! They adopted a shy, nervous, black Scottish Terrier, “Mr. Higgins,” who gradually emerged from his shell and enjoyed his new life in his forever home.

Whether you celebrate the 12th Day of Christmas, Dia de los Reyes, Denha, Little Christmas, Theophany, Timkat, Reyes or just take down the decorations, Happy Epiphany! Only 50-some weeks and we’ll do it all again!

Dunbarton

Congratulations, Chief Skoglund, and thanks Chief Wiggin for many years as Dunbarton’s Fire Chief. Revo night out and fundraiser kick off Saturday, Jan. 11 6 to 10 p.m. Ring in the New Year out at Revo Casino & Social Club. Proceeds from charitable gaming will benefit PTO and DES programming. Free food, drinks, and gaming credit. Must be 21 to play. Revo is at 1279 S. Willow St., Manchester. RSVPby Tuesday, Jan. 7 to bit.ly/2025_DES_Revo_Night.

The Congregational Church’s book group: Beyond the Book is reading, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. Discussion will be on video chat on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Please email Barbara for current info and to confirm date and time, barbennett51@gmail.com.

Library News:Play Mahjong! Thursday, Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. Call the library for more information. Read to Charliethe dog, 20-minutes sessions, for kids in grades K to 4 will begin at the library in February. Call the library, 774-3446 for more information or to register for a session. Library book group is reading 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson. Discussion is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the library. Books are available now. Winter Wonderland Forest Bathing: Connecting to Nature for Well-being, Thursday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m., Upper Town Hall and Koerber Trail, presented by Kelly Dwyer, Dress warmly and wear boots or sturdy shoes. Program begins in the library. Always check the library’s website or Facebook page to confirm dates and time.

Franklin

Thanks to Mill City Park, Polar Plungers, chili makers and volunteers for continuing the tradition of First Day Franklin to celebrate our beautiful rivers and community as we rang in the New Year.

The City Council meets Monday Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Club. Visit https://www.franklinnh.org/city-council-mayor for the agenda and more information.

Soldiers Memorial Hall Community Forum sponsored by FBIDC meets Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Mojalaki Country Club. Topic: Future Programming for Franklin Opera House. Facilitated by Community Matters. Information and documents available at www.soldiersmemorialhall.info.

Franklin VNA and Hospice has been awarded a grant from Meredith Village Savings Bank in the amount of $5,000 to purchase Piece of Mind Safety Devices. These devices are small handheld tools, which will provide employees with the ability to contact first responders quickly in the event of an emergency. They are designed to increase the personal safety of our staff, enhance job security and confidence, and decrease the response time of police, fire, and or ambulance services.

Hopkinton/Contoocook

In the upcoming exhibition at Two Villages Art Society (TVAS) in Hopkinton, Concord artists Laura Morrison and Maureen Redmond-Scura present a two-person show of bead and fiber works. Both artists are well-known for their involvement in New Hampshire art and community organizations, not only as creatives but also as curators, supporters, and leaders. “Stitched Together: Friendship, Feminism, and Craft,” opens Saturday, Jan. 11, with an opening reception from noon-2 p.m. featuring music provided by pop-folk artist Kimayo. Two Villages Art Society’s gallery is located in the village of Contoocook and is open to the public free of charge Thursday through Sunday from noon-4 p.m.

The library’s StoryWalk now features Keith Baker’s book No Two Alike. Bundle up and go for a stroll and the story today! The StoryWalk is located at Huston Fields, on the path from the children’s playground to the Dog Park.

The farmers market is inside Maple Street School on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon. Ongoing updates and information available at Contoocook Farmers’ Market on Facebook.

Pembroke

Pembroke Town Library, in conjunction with Pembroke Historical Society, and the Friends of the Pembroke Town Library present Dr. Joshua Duclos of St. Paul’s School examining “Why Democracy” on Monday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The program is arranged in conjunction with the New Hampshire Humanities. For more information, contact the Pembroke Town Library at 603-485-7851.

Penacook

Cuddle Babies Lapsit, recommended for ages 0-18 months, is held every Monday at the Penacook Library and Activity Center, at 76 Community Drive, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. This storytime experience is for the youngest library users and their caregivers, introducing songs, simple stories, rhymes, movement and play. Registration is required, at concordpubliclibrary.net/librarycalendar.

The Open Door Community Kitchen serves free hot and nutritious meals every Monday and Wednesday at United Church of Penacook. People can arrive and enter Fellowship Hall from the rear parking lot entry at 4 p.m. In-house meals are served from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Take-out service is available from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Pittsfield

The Pittsfield Senior Center is looking for volunteers. We need help with serving lunches and helping with the various activities including bingo! If you are interested in helping, please call Anne at 603-435-8482.

Also needed are Meals on Wheels drivers: If you would like a little compensation to deliver meals then become a regular part-time Meals On Wheels (MOW) driver. We are looking for professional, friendly, and reliable MOW drivers who want to make a difference in the lives of older individuals who are hungry and isolated. As a driver, you will deliver midday meals to seniors to their homes. Drivers are needed for approximately four hours a day. No experience is necessary. Requires own transportation and vehicle insurance. If interested please apply at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/2756787. Call 603-485-4254 for more information.

If you are a 501(c)(3), have you heard about the Globe Community Fund? Established by the former fourth-generation family owners of Globe Manufacturing Company in Pittsfield, the donor-advised fund is administered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The fund’s purpose is to enhance community well-being with a focus on the towns of Pittsfield, Barnstead, Epsom, Northwood, Gilmanton and Chichester. For more information and an application, email the fund at GlobeCommunityFund@msasafety.com.

Warner

The Warner Fish and Game Club is a private non-profit organization that promotes the preservation and conservation of outdoor activities such as hunting, trapping and shooting. They are also seeking volunteers and donations, both monetary and in-kind, for their annual Children’s Fishing Derby, which will be held on May 10. To donate or learn more about the club, visit https://wfgnh.org, Warner Fish & Game Club on Facebook, or email 4warnerfginfo@gmail.com.

The Pillsbury Free Library has lots going on. Join their upcoming Book Group on Jan. 14 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. The Pokemon Club meets at the library the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 3-5 p.m. All are welcome. The Library has free or reduced passes to NH State Parks, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discover Center, The Currier Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and more. Contact the library for more information.

Need to work off your holiday indulgences? Join free indoor pickleball in the Simonds School gym every Monday and Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. See who’s coming and sign in on the TeamReach app under WarnerNHPB with the group code of WPB21. Or just show up! Use the outside door of gym.

Weare/Henniker

School will be back in session starting Monday and the business of running the towns and the schools goes into full gear with the followings meetings being just the tip of the iceberg:

Weare Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 20 beginning 7 p.m. to hear public testimony and comment on the 2025 overall proposed town budget. At 9 a.m. on Jan. 20 the Town of Weare has a deadline for proposals to engage the services of a qualified private firm to provide cleaning services. And also on the 20th the Selectmen will hold a public hearing beginning at 6:45 p.m. for the purpose of hearing public testimony and comment on the acceptance a NH Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) 2021 Building Resilient Communities and Infrastructure (BRIC) Grant.

Meanwhile over in Henniker they are seeking a part-time buildings and grounds attendant/day laborer with the budget committee submitting their draft of the budget at the selectmen’s meeting on Jan. 21 at 6:15 p.m.

And while the business of the towns is being worked on there are almost daily sports events at NEC (which has a super web site that includes video highlights each week from their men’s and women’s teams), JSRHS and the two middle schools.

Webster

From the town clerk’s office: Town elections will be held on March 11 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the town hall. The following open positions will be voted on: select board (three-year term), trustee of the trust fund (three-year term), trustee of the library (three-year term), and trustee of the cemetery (three-year term). The filing period for these positions is Jan. 22–31. Please come into the town clerk’s office to file. The office will be open an extra day on Jan. 31 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. to accept filings for town office.

Woof, woof, arf. What is your dog telling you? He’s telling you that 2025 dog tags will be available starting Jan. 6. All dogs must be licensed by April 30. Your dog hopes a new car comes with the license, and if not, a biscuit would be nice.

A new feature for the Webster Town Crier. If you have a small business in Webster and would like people to know about it, email me a paragraph with the information on your business. The maximum number of words for the column is 200. I will do my best to put the information in when there is space.