November 16, 2006

News around Manchester
By Lisa Parsons news@hippopress.com

• From one bank to another: The Citizens Bank Foundation has contributed $50,000 to the New Hampshire Food Bank to provide food to 2,000 families. According to the Food Bank, inventory is critically low.

“With this contribution … we will purchase two tractor trailer loads of nutritious food which can in turn be available to give to families in need,” said Melanie Gosselin, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, based in Manchester.

The food will be packaged into boxes each containing enough food to feed a family of four for a week. Two thousand such boxes will be packaged for distribution to the 350 locations supported by the Food Bank.

• The Speaker speaks: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the guest speaker at the Christmas Holiday Dinner of the Manchester Republican City Committee Dec. 15 at the Executive Court at the Yard Restaurant. Advance tickets to the dinner, including DJ and dancing, cost $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10; tickets purchased at the door cost $100 each. For security reasons, there will be no photo opportunities at or after the dinner – but for $200 per person you can attend the separate VIP event in a different building and get personal time with the Speaker. Tickets may be purchased online at manchestergop.com or by mailing a check to Jerry Thibodeau, 41 Alpheus St., Manchester, NH 03103.

• Mom art: The New Hampshire Association of American Mothers, Inc., invites the public to attend its 22nd annual cultural arts exhibit and competition through November 27 at the Bedford Public Library gallery. On display are the works of 17 artists and four writers. First-place winners in oil painting, watercolor painting, pastel painting, mixed media, sculpture, crafts, computer graphics, photography and poetry, short stories and essays will have the opportunity to vie for $8,000 in awards in the national American Mothers, Inc., Cultural Arts Competition 2007. A reception and awards ceremony will be held Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Library; the public is invited to attend free of charge. See nhmothers.com.

• Make-A-Wish angels: The New Hampshire Credit Union League (NHCUL) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire kick off their eighth annual Adopt-An-Angel campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 3:15 p.m. at the Manchester Fire Department, 100 Merrimack St. Two local Make-A-Wish children will present symbolic angel cutouts to local firefighters. The angels will be sold for $3 each or two for $5 at credit unions across the state to help make wishes come true for children who are battling life-threatening conditions. Each angel details a brief story about a child the Make-A-Wish Foundation® serves and the wish he or she was granted. This year the NHCUL hopes to raise $15,000 with this campaign as part of its overall goal of $135,000 for the Foundation by July 21, 2007. 

• See science projects, eat snacks: UNH-Manchester chemistry students will present the results of their semester-long investigations into topics including hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogels for cornea transplants, nanotechnology, chelation therapy and more. The students, who are enrolled in General Chemistry with Professor Sarah Kenick and Organic Chemistry with Professor Alan Ray, will present their research posters on Monday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the auditorium at UNH-Manchester. Students will be on hand to answer questions and light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

• Again with the dogs at the bookstore: Barnes & Noble in Manchester (1741 S. Willow St.) will raise funds for the Animal Rescue League of NH on Sunday, Dec. 3. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day, a portion of net sales to customers who present a League voucher (which you can pick up on the spot) will be donated to the League. Meanwhile the League will hold lectures at the store. Diane Frost and her therapy dog, Molly, will demonstrate safe handling of animals from 11 a.m. to noon. Obedience trainer Maureen Prendergast will demonstrate training tips with her dog, Shiloh, from noon to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Prendergast will also host a discussion of animal cruelty investigations from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

The League will have a volunteer on hand to answer questions about the shelter. An adoptable animal will be visiting in the hopes of finding a new home prior to the holidays. The League is at rescueleague.org or 472-DOGS.

• Also at the B&N: Shop at the Barnes & Noble in Manchester on Friday, Nov. 17, or Saturday, Nov. 18, and you can help raise funds for CHaD (Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth). Present a voucher (which you can find at www.kristensgift.com/chad) and a percent of the net sale will help CHaD’s Child Life Program, which helps make life easier for kids staying at the hospital long-term.

• Travel expo: The Manchester Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (MACVB) is hosting the first Passport to New Hampshire Travel and Vacation Expo at the Radisson Hotel at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester on Dec. 5 from 2 to 7 p.m. The event will showcase destinations that make New Hampshire a great place to visit. Exhibitors include Southwest Airlines, Booth Creek Resorts, the Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa, Hot Laps Karting Center and more. For a complete list of exhibitors, contact Amy at the MACVB at amy@manchestercvb.com. The MACVB is at (603) 666-6600.

• Maybe a toy car? Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any Sullivan Tire location now through Dec. 15 and the folks at the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program will pick it up for distribution to needy kids in the community. Sullivan Tire has store locations in Bedford, Derry, Dover, Keene, Manchester, Nashua, Newington, Plaistow, Salem,  Seabrook and Stratham, and commercial truck centers in Bow and Lee; find the location nearest you at sullivantire.com or 1-877-855-4826.

• Zimmerman in fall: Tours of the Zimmerman House, the home in Manchester’s North End designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, continue eight times weekly through Dec. 30, departing from Currier Downtown at 52 Hanover St. Reservations are required for all tour times, which, although subject to change, are scheduled as Monday, Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

Visit www.currier.org or call 669-6144, ext. 108, to reserve tickets. Cost is $11for adults, $8 for seniors/students, free for Currier members.