■The DAR Buntin, Rumford, Webster Chapter has invited Paul Wainwright as a guest speaker to their Annual Vespers Service on Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Old Allenstown Meeting House. Mr. Wainwright is a well-known photographer and expert on old meeting houses. This event is open to the public.

■Allenstown will become a Purple Heart Community on Aug. 7 with a ceremony at the Community Center at 8 Whitten Street at noon. State dignitaries and Allenstown veterans who have received the Purple Heart medal will be honored. Signage will be installed on Route 3, identifying Allenstown as part of the state’s Purple Heart Trail.

■St. John the Baptist Monthly Market will be held on Saturday, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Aug.7 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall, 10 School Street.

■Catfish Howl will perform a concert sponsored by Economic Development Committee on Aug.14 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Town Hall lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music and other activities.

■Cruise Night will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at the ARD School at 10 School Street and the first cruise night sponsored by the Economic Development Committee. We invite anyone who has a classic car to come and show off your pride and joy.

■The Suncook Senior Center will hold a ServiceLink on Aug.11 at 11:30 a.m. If you are looking for help to solve a problem our local ServiceLink representative will be here to help. ServiceLink is an Aging and Disability Resouce Center for information and support services within your community.

■The Suncook Senior Center is planning a Fall Foliage Trip to Vermont with lunch at the New England House and a Tour and Show at the Friesians of Majesty, on Sept. 27 for $118 per person. Price includes, transportation, lunch, dining room taxes and gratuities, visit to the farm with tour and show, and driver’s gratuity of $1. please contact Nancy at (603) 485-9181 for more information.

■St. John the Baptist Church is planning a fundraiser with a Harvest Penny Sale on Oct. 21, 22 and 23. They are looking for volunteers, donations of new and unused prizes, books, puzzles, and vintage jewelry. There is also a sign-up for anyone to help make baked goods. If you can help, please call (603) 485-3113.

■Mary Lou Kelly, passed away on July 10. Mary and her husband Reverand Frank Kelly (deceased 2013) served with the Chichester Methodist Church and was associated with 13 United Methodist Churches in the area and volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Association.

■The Park and Rec Committee will meet on Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Carpenter Park. Volunteers are always needed to keep the area active with activities and various sports.

■Chichester members of the Concord-Epsom Elk Lodge along with other members will be sponsoring a summer motorcycle charity ride on Aug. 20 at 9 a.m. The Elks contribute to veterans, children’s programs and local food banks. Registration and the event will be held at 24 Old Mill Rd., Epsom.

■The Chichester Cemetery Commission recently hired Topographix to survey parts of three cemeteries to see if there might be a space for futural burials. The equipment used detects disturbed grounds which indicates a possible burial with no marker. True Cemetery on Bear Hill Road was one of the cemeteries where they found 12 places where the ground was possibly disturbed. Trustees of the cemetery will place flat stones to mark those areas.

■Chief Patrick Clarke has retired. Joshua Wright has the new title of Chichester Police Chief. Welcome Chief Wright. Upon the retirement of Donna Stockman, police administrator, Karen Woolverton, has taken her position. Jodie Pinard has taken over the duties of Welfare Administrator for Chichester.

■Out Of Your Attic Thrift Shop will have a special August summer special sale. Stop in and see all its summer bargains at ½ off.

■Hampton Pottery, a local artist, will be at the NH Craftsman Fair Mt. Sunapee until Aug. 14.

■The Town Clerks Office have received absentee ballots for the military and overseas voters for the Sept. 13 State Primary. The ballots can be emailed. Contact townclerk@chichesternh.org to request paperwork to be completed.

■Rocky Rest Stables will be hosting a driving clinic on Aug. 14 starting at 10 a.m. This is a free event at Towle/Mason Road off of Horse Corner Road. Come and see area equine drivers give demonstrations in driving.

■Meetings held at the Town Office Meeting room: the Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday at 6 p.m., the Planning Board will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and the Webster Park Commission will meet on Thursday at 6 p.m.

■Lego Club at the Library on Mondays at 3:30 p.m.

■Story Time continues at the library through the Summer on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Join us for stories, songs, crafts and a snack. Themes for August include ocean animals and back-to-school stories.

■Thinker Thursdays, the club, starts at 3:30 p.m. at the library. As well as “Advanced New England Lighthouses and the People Who Kept Them,” on Monday in the EPL Meeting Room for a fun evening. Open to all ages. Please call, stop in or email kaitlin.camidge@epsomnh.org to sign up. Funded by the NH Humanities To Go Program. There will also be a salt painting experiment with salt and watercolors as we paint a beach scene and add a salty touch in the style of Yamamoto Motoi. The program is brought to you by the Children’s Museum of NH. Sign-ups are highly appreciated, but drop-ins are welcome.

■Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m., is “Turtle Tales” with Mary Doane the Turtle Lady! There will be storytelling, songs, movement, and creative arts. Enjoy viewing live box turtles, aquatic turtles, and more! Follow the above directions to sign up. Sign up in the library at the Summer Reading Program table or email Miss Hannah at youth.services@epsomnh.org.

■The Knitters Group will continue to meet at the library on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Crochet, quilting and fabric crafters of all sorts are welcome!

■The mums sale will kick off at Old Home Day. Be sure to stop by the Friends of the Library booth to reserve your mums for the fall. We are happy to say that we are not raising our prices this year. Mums will be $8 each or five for $35. Orders are due by Aug. 15 and the pick up date is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 6.

■Movie Matinee at the library on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., The Desperate Hour.

■Thursday, at 10:15 a.m., The VNA will be presenting “Managing Stress at Any Age.” Everyone experiences stress. It can affect our mental and physical health in various ways. Learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects are important. Join us as we discuss strategies to recharge and find balance in your life. Note for parents - Miss Hannah will be hosting a free play and activity at the same time for any parents that would like to attend but need a safe place for their child(ren).

■The Epsom Old Home Day Parade is on Aug. 13 at 9 a.m! We would love for groups, organizations, decorated bikes, hot rods, old tractors, trucks, and sports cars to come and participate. Want more information? Contact Scott at (603) 419-0511. Even Santa is coming for a visit and going to be in the parade! A schedule of events will be out soon, as well as the mailer. We have a lot happening from Aug. 12 through 14! Check the Facebook page, Epsom Old Home Weekend at Webster Park, for updates.

■Happy birthday to Lori Preve and Christina Ghallami on Monday, and Sally Petalas on Tuesday. I hope you have wonderful celebrations!

■Pittsfield Balloon Rally’s Frank H. Donovan 5K will be back in person and we hope to see you there. The race is on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. Registration is now open and can be found here: https://raceroster.com/.../pittsfield-balloon-rallys. Registrations are also welcome at the gazebo on Drake Field on the morning of the race for $25, cash only. There will be awards for each age category and $100 cash prizes for each male and female winner. More information is available on the Balloon Rally website: http://suncookvalleyrotary.org/SitePage/hot-air-balloon-rally. For information, please contact Libby and Keith Kun at (603) 505-1635 or email frank5krun@gmail.com.

■Pittsfield’s Hot Air Balloon Rally is back and that means that the Victory Workers 4-H Club’s Cow Chip Bingo is back, too! Tickets are available now! All proceeds assist the club with educational programs, life skill projects, scholarships and other activities that help the kids “Make the Best Better.” For tickets, please contact Pam Clattenburg at 435-0772 or Melissa Babcock at 496-3928. There is Cow Chip Bingo on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. at Drake Field.

■The Pittsfield Old Home Day Committee would like to thank everyone that helped to make our Old Home Day event a fun and successful day! Thank you to the following individuals, organizations and businesses: Suncook Valley Rotary Club, PES PTO, Powerful You Yoga, Sandi Adams, Jitters Café, Stan Bailey, Kevin Kennedy, Vicki Watson and Tracey Stephens for performing the National Anthem, all parade participants, Parks & Recreation Commission, Bob Wharem-Suncook Valley Area Lions Club and Anna Vyce, Kate Crary, Adam Gauthier, Jujubee the Clown, BJ Hickman, Coach Laroche & PMHS Girls Basketball team, Josiah Carpenter Library, Pittsfield Historical Society, Roberta Maxfield and Louie Houle for presenting the 2022 Pittsfield Citizen of the Year award to MinniPlante, Nevers Band, Granite Image, Jay Darrah and Pittsfield Police Department, Pittsfield Fire Department, the crew from Joe Darrah Enterprises, Pittsfield Clothes Closet, and Globe by MSA. Thank you to everyone that came out and braved the heat and humidity to attend the event! Enjoy the rest of the summer!

■The Old Home Day Parade winners: in the Youth Division (first place – Victory Workers 4-H Club, second place - F.B. Argue Recreation Area (aka Town Pool) and third place - Pittsfield Youth Workshop), and in the Open Division (first place - Marston Family Farm, second place - Josiah Carpenter Library and third place - The Pittsfield Players). Thank you to all that participated in the parade it was a great time! Congratulations to Janice Oliver for winning the Duck Race.

■Two services will be held this summer at the Friends Meetinghouse (Quaker Church), on Dowboro Road in South Pittsfield. On Aug. 7 at 1 p.m., Harold Muzzey will be the speaker and on Aug. 21 at 1 p.m., Nancy Talbott will be the speaker. Everyone is welcome to attend.

■The Josiah Carpenter Library Mead & Read Bookclub will meet on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Over the Moon Farmstead.

■Joy Church will hold a free Community Breakfast on Aug. 13 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at 55 Barnstead Rd. All are invited to attend.

■Joy Church is hosting a Family Block Party on Aug. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. at Drake Field, Pittsfield. There will be food, music, a bounce house, and games. Bring a chair and a dish to share. Burgers and hot dogs are provided.

■The Pittsfield Historical Society’s new museum at 4 Oak Street is now officially open! The Society would like to thank all the visitors who joined on July 23, to celebrate the Grand Opening of our new museum. We were honored by the warm reception and participation. If you missed the festivities, as it was a tad hot outside, please check out the video of the ceremonies which is posted in the society’s website: https://pittsfieldhistory.com. Many of you weren’t able to fully explore all the various displays, so please stop by any Tuesday morning between 9 a.m. and noon, or call the museum at (603) 435-8004 to arrange a time to visit.

■The PES PTO is sponsoring a community wide used/good condition clothing collection, we are specifically looking for children’s sizes 2T to 18. Clothing may be dropped off at the F.B. Argue Recreation Area (aka Town Pool) from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please deliver the clothing bagged and alert the staff that the donation is for the PTO Clothing Collection. The dates and location will be announced soon when for the clothing-fundraiser date for families to come out and leave with some new to you clothing for the upcoming school year. For any questions please email PTO@pittsfieldnhschools.org.

■Coach LaRoche, PMHS Girls Basketball Program announced that on Wednesdays and Fridays there is an open gym from 6 to 8 p.m. for all girls in Grades 6 to 12. This is a great opportunity for any student considering basketball to come give it a try. Girls can be experienced, or come to the gym having never picked up a basketball in their life.

■At the Senior Center on Aug 10, at 11 a.m. there will be a Recipe Round Up. Bring some of your favorite recipes to share. Maybe you have a story to go along with your recipe or it’s been handed down from past generations. We will make a copy and give you back yours. Then, wouldn’t it be nice to get a copy of Recipe’s of Pittsfield Seniors Volume 1? This will be fun, please join us!

■Royal Tours presents a Fall Foliage Trip to Vermont with lunch at The New England House And a Tour and Show at the Friesians of Majesty on Sept. 23, for $118 per person. The deadline is Aug. 22, and the payment is due on Sept. 5. Please contact the Senior Center at (603) 435-8482 or Carol at 485-4254. Departure from the Senior Center will be at 8:30 a.m. and will be home approximately 7:30 p.m.

■Happy Birthday wishes to my brother-in-law, Andy Fries and to JoAnne Ward on Sunday, to Fred Hast on Monday and to Sally Petalas on Tuesday. I hope you all enjoy your special day!

■Happy Anniversary wishes to Ben and Bonita Davis on Wednesday, to Merrill and Diane Vaughan and to Sally and Jeff Wardwell on Saturday.

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