Author: The Hippo Press

Health care research

In a May 22 press release, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced a $1.6 million grant to the University of New Hampshire for a research center to inform the public on the “impact of consolidation to the New Hampshire health care market. The center will examine hospital, physician and private insurance market consolidation. Using data-driven methodologies, the research will compare New Hampshire’s market trends with both nearby states and broader national patterns,” the release said. See doj.nh.gov/health-care-consumer-protection-advisory-commission.

Birthday pic

To celebrate Bedford’s 275th birthday, artist Ann Trainor Domingue painted “Village of Bedford, NH- Established 1750,” a work featuring notable town structures including Joppa Hill Farm, the Presbyterian Church, the Bedford Public Library, the Bedford Village Inn, the Town Hall and others, according to a press release. The work was unveiled last week at Sullivan Framing and Fine Art Gallery (15 N. Amherst Road in Bedford; sullivanframing.com) which will be selling commemorative prints to benefit “Bedford Historical Society and their completion of the Stevens-Buswell Community Center,” the release said. The prints cost $135 unframed, $250 framed, and are signed by the artist, according to the website.

Waste line

Nashua Regional Planning Commission is holding a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Thursday, June 5, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Nashua Park and Ride, 25 Crown St. in Nashua, accepting up to 10 gallons or 20 pounds for $20 per vehicle, cash or check, according to a press release. The collection is open to residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mount Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Windham, the release said. No latex or acrylic paint, electronics or medicines; see nashuapc.org/hhw or call 417-6570 for a list of accepted items.

Full-time vet

Salem Animal Rescue League (4 SARL Drive in Salem; sarlnh.org) has hired a full-time staff veterinarian, Dr. Jordan Gagne, according to a press release. “With a steadily increasing number of intakes and medical cases, having a full-time veterinarian on-site will allow for faster diagnostics, improved treatment plans, and enhanced preventive care for the animals under the rescue’s care. It also will allow for an increase in community clinics for the underserved in our community,” the release said.

The Ted Herbert Music School will hold its Jazz Showcase on Sunday, June 8, at 3 p.m. at the Ted Herbert Music School and Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester), according to a press release. The event will feature performances by the 2025 Ted Herbert Community Big Band and the school’s students and instructors, the release said. Tickets cost $15; see majestictheatre.net.

The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway in Derry; derrypl.org) will host a “Dartmouth CARES — Heart Health Screening” event on Thursday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. including free screenings of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose, according to an email. No registration is required.

The Nashua Chamber Orchestra will present a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth for its season finale, Saturday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (Judd Gregg Hall, 505 Amherst St. in Nashua) and Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m. at the Milford Town Hall on the Milford Oval, according to a press release. See nco-music.org for tickets, which cost $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, military and students ages 18 and over; kids under 18 get in for free.

YMCA of Greater Nashua will offer a free Water Safety Day event on Sunday, June 1, at the Merrimack YMCA (6 Henry Clay Drive in Merrimack), according to a press release. The event will include free “safety around water” swim lessons for children, drowning prevention giveaways, water watcher tag giveaways, activities and family swim time, the release said. Register for the free event at nmymca.org/water-safety-month.

Volunteer Fair

The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold a Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Chandler Wing of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org), according to a press release. The event will feature more than 30 local nonprofits representing a variety of volunteer opportunities including “youth development, food security, environmental sustainability, or supporting older adults,” the release said. See unitedwaynashua.org.

New at MSD

Last week, the Manchester School District Board of School Committee approved the hiring of an assistant superintendent and principals at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School and Manchester School of Technology High School, according to a district release. Ryan Roth, currently working in a California school district, will serve as the assistant superintendent of middle schools and student services, the release said. “Longtime District administrator and current Assistant Principal Keith Puglisi was selected as the next Principal at Manchester School of Technology,” succeeding the retiring Principal Tim Otis, the release said. And Tim Larney, an administrator at the Nashua School District, will be Highland-Goffe’s Falls principal, the release said, succeeding the retiring Principal Sue Matthews. All the new positions are effective July 1, the release said.

New executive director

Liberty House, a Manchester-based program from Catholic Charities NH that provides “transitional housing and a community pantry for New Hampshire veterans,” has announced that Ashley Kitchell is the organization’s new executive director, according to a press release. Kitchell has worked at Liberty House for nearly a decade and was most recently the assistant director, the release said. See libertyhousenh.org.

Memorial Day commemorations

The Manchester VA Medical Center (718 Smyth Road in Manchester) will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon outside the Eagle entrance of the center, according to a press release.

Bedford holds its annual Bedford Memorial Day Hometown Parade on Sunday, May 25, at 1 p.m. The parade will run up Meetinghouse Road from Bedford Center Road to the Town Hall, followed by a celebration at Bedford Village Common Park, according to a post on the Bedford Parks & Recreation Facebook page.

The Concord Memorial Day Parade will take place Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. and run from the Christ the King Church parking lot on Thorndike Street and wind toward the City Plaza, according to concordnh.gov.

Indie Lens Pop-up, a series featuring screenings of films from PBS’s Independent Lens, will present Free For All: The Public Library followed by a discussion with Susan Drisko Zago, Law Library Director and Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord, according to a Red River Theatres Facebook post, where you can find a link to reserve a seat for this free event.

Tickets are on sale now for the Palace Theatre’s Kitchen Tour on Sunday, June 1. The tour will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature a self-guided tour at kitchens in Amherst, Bedford Hollis and Manchester, with a lunch offered at Baron’s Major Brands in Manchester. Tickets cost $55 in advance, $65 on the day. See palacetheatre.org.

The Peterborough Town Library (2 Concord St. in Peterborough; peterboroughtownlibrary.org) will hold a two-day craft supplies swap Friday, May 23, from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring in new or gently used art supplies to exchange.

Shirley Phillips will discuss her book How Not To Fly An Airplane: A Female Pilot’s Journey on Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at Balin Books (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com).