Author: The Hippo Press

Teacher award

The New Hampshire Department of Education announced the three finalists for 2027 Teacher of the Year: Rebecca Fortgang, a French teacher at Pembroke Academy in Pembroke; Katherine McDonough, a Latin teacher at Rundlett Middle School and Concord High School in Concord, and Christ Powers, a math teacher at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, according to a May 19 press release. “An award winner will be announced in June,” the release said.

Give blood, get stuff

The American Red Cross is calling on people to give blood ahead of the summer season, according to a May 20 press release from the American Red Cross Northern New England Region. Schedule a donation at redcrossblood.org. Those who donate by May 31 will receive an oversized Red Cross beach towel while supplies last, the release said. Those who donate between June 1 and June 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice and be entered for a chance to win one of two $7,500 gift cards, the release said. See RedCrossBlood.org/June for details.

Eyass update

Madi, named by Manchester’s Hillside Middle School’s fifth-grade math and science class for Mount Madison, hatched early May 20 and is the first eyass (falcon hatchling) to hatch from the group of five eggs this season at the peregrine falcon nest at the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester, according to the Daily Log accessible via the live video feeds from the nest. The peregrine cam offers livestreaming video of the nest via NH Audubon and the support of Peregrine Networks and Brady Sullivan Properties, according to nhaudubon.org/education/birds-and-birding/peregrine-cam. A meet & greet for those looking to learn more about the peregrine falcons will take place Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. at Brady Sullivan Tower, 1750 Elm St. in Manchester, according to the log, where you can find a list of needed supplies for the Wings of Dawn Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Bird Sanctuary in Henniker.

Art show for a cause

Darbster Rescue will hold its Pawsitive Energy Juried Art Show at Darbster Kitty, 332 Kelley St. in Manchester, Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7, with a reception on June 4 from 5 to 8 p.m., according to a press release. Darbster Rescue will receive a donation for each sale, according to darbsterfoundation.com.

Pride month

Manchester True Collaborative will hold the Pride Flag raising at City Hall Plaza in Manchester on Monday, June 1, at 11:30 a.m., according to a post on the group’s Facebook page, where you can find details about other upcoming Pride Month events.

Writers’ Conference

The New Hampshire Writers’ Project will hold its annual 603 Writers’ Conference on Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, featuring “expert-led workshops, a moderated AI panel discussion, the signature Pitch Party & Social, catered meals, and networking opportunities,” according to a press release. See nhwritersproject.org to register.

Correction

The Taste of Downtown Nashua will take place Wednesday, June 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to downtownnashua.org, where you can check back for updates and to purchase tickets. (Hippo’s Summer Guide in the May 21 issue had the event incorrectly listed for earlier in June.)

“LaBelle in Bloom,” a five-year anniversary celebration for the LaBelle Winery’s Derry location (14 Route 111 in Derry), will be held on Saturday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m., according to labellewinery.com, where you can purchase tickets and see the dinner menu. The gala will also serve as a fundraiser for Lydia’s House of Hope, the website said.

A plant sale to benefit Community Hospice House will take place Saturday, May 30, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at St. John Neumann Parish, 708 Milford Road in Merrimack, according to thebiglittlegarden.com. Have a plant sale? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

There will be a Household Hazardous Waste Collection day on Thursday, June 4, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Nashua Park and Ride, 25 Crown St. in Nashua for residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Windham, according to a press release. “Businesses must call NRPC [417-6570] to register and pay,” the release said. The cost is a “$20 fee per vehicle, for up to 10 gallons or 20 pounds. Cash or check made out to NRSWMD. … No Latex/Acrylic Paint, No Electronics, No Medications,” the release said. See nashuarpc.org/hhw.

Memorial Day

It’s a weekend of Memorial Day parades and celebrations. Here are a few:

• The Amherst Memorial Day Parade takes place Friday, May 22, with a 5:30 p.m. start time in the Amherst Village Green, according to the Wreaths Across Amherst Facebook page.

• Hooksett’s Memorial Day Parade will be held Sunday, May 24, at noon at Lambert’s Park, according to a post on the Town of Hooksett’s Facebook page.

• The Memorial Day events in Epping will begin with a 21-gun salute and wreath-laying at four cemeteries starting at 7 a.m., followed by a parade beginning at 9 a.m. at the American Legion, 232 Calef Highway, and then a ceremony at Plumer Park, according to a post on the Epping American Legion Post 51 Facebook page.

• The Memorial Day Paradein Concord will start at 9 a.m. at the Christ the King Church on Thorndike Street, travel left onto Park Street, then left onto North State Street and another left onto Capitol Street to end at City Plaza, with a brief ceremony, according to concordnh.gov.

• The Brookline Memorial Day Ceremony will take place Monday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m. in front of Town Hall on Main Street hosted by the Brookline American Legion Post 74, according to brooklinenh.gov.

• The Memorial Day Parade in Milford takes place on Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. beginning in the West Street Cemetery and traveling on Elm Street to the Milford Oval and then to the VFW, according to milford.nh.gov/news.

• The Derry Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance will take place on Monday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. in Hoods Commons followed by a gathering at MacGregor Park at 11 a.m. for remembrance ceremony, speakers and music and a flag raising at noon, according to a post on the Derry Fire Department Facebook page.

• Nashua’s Memorial Day Parade will take place down Main Street on Monday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m., according to a press release.

• The Memorial Day Ceremony & Parade in Salem will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a short ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetery followed by a parade to Salem Common, where the ceremony will continue, according to salemnh.gov.

• A Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance Ceremony in Londonderry will take place Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at Robert Lincoln Way, traveling to Glenwood Cemetery and returning to the Town Common for a ceremony, according to londonderrynh.gov.

• The Manchester Veterans Council will hold its Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, at 2 p.m. on Elm Street from Bridge Street to Central Street, according to a press release. “Following the parade, the Council will dedicate the Gulf Wars and War on Terror Monument in Veterans Park,” the release said.

Celebration poster

The Manchester Arts Commission is looking for artists and graphic designers to participate in a poster contest to celebrate the city’s 180th anniversary and the country’s 250th anniversary, according to an item in the MEDO Minute newsletter from the City of Manchester Economic Development Office. Submissions are due May 31. See facebook.com/CityOfManchesterNHEconomicDevelopment for a post with all the submission details.

Brookford Farm, 250 West Road in Canterbury, 742-4084, is running a plant sale daily in May, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to an email from the farm. A farm visit also offers an opportunity to visit the animals in the barnyard and sample local products, the email said. See brookfordfarm.com.

The Pierce Brigade will feature “Saving the General’s House,” a presentation by Trish Jackson (chapter regent of the DAR Molly Stark Chapter) about the efforts to save the boyhood home of General John Stark on Wednesday, May 27, at 2 p.m. at the Pierce Manse, 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, according to a press release. The Pierce Manse, the home of Franklin Pierce (the only U.S. president to come from New Hampshire), will open for the season on Thursday, May 28, with tours Thursdays, through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., through Oct. 24, the release said. See piercemanse.org.

The “Paws & Claws” art show will take place Thursday, May 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sullivan Framing, 15 N. Amherst Road in Bedford, to raise funds for the Animal Rescue League of NH. Purchase a $125 6-inch by 6-inch original painting and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the League, according to sullivanframing.com and rescueleague.org. Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Copper Door, the Rescue League website said.

The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, will host Art for Vets Community Day on Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for veterans, active service members and their families, featuring refreshments, a drop-in art activity and museum tours, according to an email from the Currier. At 1 p.m., “all museum visitors are welcome to attend a free auditorium Art Talk with sculptors participating in the 2026 Nashua International Sculpture Symposium,” the email said. See currier.org for details.