Author: The Hippo Press

New mural in Manchester

Manchester is slated to get a new mural on Saturday, May 16, at “the embankment along Canal and Pleasant Streets,” a project that is a collaboration between SEE Science Center, Manchester Connects and artist Big Sam Paints, according to a press release from SEE Science Center. The mural will “highlight Manchester’s industrial history and natural landscape” and “will span about 130 feet long by 8 feet high and run along both sides of the stairway, tapering at each end to follow the shape of the embankment. Installation will take place throughout the day,” the release said. “The design pulls from Manchester’s past as a textile mill city, using abstract patterns inspired by fabric production. It also includes flowing elements that reference the Merrimack River. … Residents and visitors are encouraged to stop by Canal and Pleasant Streets on May 16 to see the mural come together.”

New mural in Nashua

A mural celebrating Nashua’s history and French Canadian heritage will be unveiled on the Water Street bridge wall in Nashua on Saturday, May 23, at 3:30 p.m. during a weekend-long celebration at Nashua’s Renaissance Park and Riverwalk, according to a press release from Nashua’s Offices of the Mayor and Economic Development. The mural fills the wall that is 70 feet long and ranges from 5 to 20 feet high and is the work of artist Graham Carraway of Denver, Colorado, the release said. According to the mayor’s office Facebook page Enjoy Nashua, there will be “four days of music, food, events and fun for the whole family” at the newly renovated Le Parc de Notre Renaissance from Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25.

New nurses

New Hampshire community colleges will graduate 347 nursing students over the next few days, the largest class since 2013, according to a press release from Community College System of New Hampshire on May 11. “Of those, 290 will graduate prepared to become Registered Nurses (RN) and 57 as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), ready to enter a healthcare workforce stretched thin across the state,” the release said. Pinning ceremonies, which date to 1855 “when Queen Victoria honored Florence Nightingale for her service during the Crimean War,” will take place at colleges May 14 through May 18, with 22 RN graduates from Nashua Community College, 79 RN graduates from NHTI Concord’s Community College and 61 RN graduates from Manchester Community College among them, the release said. See ccsnh.edu for information on the community college system.

Grants for the outdoors

The New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation has opened the latest round of grant applications for Land and Water Conservation Fund grants and will accept applications through April 30, 2029, according to a press release. Applicants can submit project proposals at any time during the three-year period with projects “reviewed annually for eligibility and readiness, including site inspections,” the press release said. “Funding requests must range from $150,000 to $1,000,000 and require a minimum 1:1 match. Eligible projects include park and recreation facility development, land acquisition, or a combination of both,” the release said. “The LWCF is a federal program, administered in partnership with the National Park Service, that provides matching grants to states and local communities for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas. Since its inception, LWCF funding has supported parks, trails, and recreational facilities in communities from every corner of New Hampshire, expanding access and enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” the release said. Contact the LWCF Program at 271-3556 or lwcf@dncr.nh.gov for more information or see nhstateparks.org/about-us/community-recreation/land-water-conservation-fund-grant.

Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton St. in Concord, will hold a church plant sale on Saturday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to an email from the church.

The In Our Roots Annual Multicultural Fashion Show will take place at Manchester West High School auditorium on Saturday, May 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring “bold looks” as well as performances by Cozy Throne, Rhythm & Roots Studio and the school’s own Nepali dancers, according to west.mansd.org.

Energy week

NH Energy Week continues through Friday, May 8, according to a press release from Clean Energy NH. Throughout the week, which started May 4, more than 30 in-person and virtual events are scheduled, focusing on a range of energy-related topics, the release said. Events on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, include 603 Solar for a “Solar Lunch and Learn” on May 7 in Exeter at noon; Energy Trivia at Rockingham Brewing Co. in Derry on May 7 at 6:30 p.m.; a virtual program on “How to Combat Rising Energy Costs with Solar Panels” on May 8 at 11 a.m., and “Currents of Change: Hydro & Community Power at Amoskeag” in Manchester at noon on May 8, according to nhenergyfuture.org, where you can find details on these and other events those days and register to participate. On Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Lake Region Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hold a “Love Your Earth Day” event at Veterans Square in Laconia, the website said. See cleanenergynh.org for more on Clean Energy NH.

Career Closet

Plymouth State University Student Support Foundation and Academic and Career Advising Center has opened the University’s Career Closet, a program that gives students access to business casual clothing, according to a press release. The program offers the clothes to students at no cost and will accept donations of clean, stain- and tear-free men’s and women’s blazers and jackets, dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, cardigans, suits and matching sets, professional dresses and skirts, professional shoes and accessories such as belts, ties and bags, the press release said. “Clothing donations must be scheduled prior to drop-off; appointments are available Monday through Friday. Anyone interested in scheduling a donation appointment may email career.development@plymouth.edu or call 603-535-3065,” the release said.

Fundraiser for veterans

The Pulse of NH radio stations will hold an on-air fundraiser Wednesday, May 13, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — the Veterans Count “Make 12-Hours Count Radiothon,” according to an Easterseals NH press release. The money raised during the event will support New Hampshire service members, veterans and their families, the release said. The event will broadcast on stations including “News Talk 107.3 WTPL, 98.1 WTSN, and 107.3 WEMJ” and “music stations, including Frank FM, 105.5 JYY, Country 93.3 The Wolf, and Country 95.3 & 107.1 The Wolf,” the release said. “Easterseals NH Veterans Count is joining forces with Binnie Media to present a day of programming by and about veterans to fundraise for the New Hampshire military community. Hosted by Jack Heath of Good Morning New Hampshire and broadcast legend Mike Pomp, listeners will enjoy a day filled with stories, sponsor interviews, celebrity endorsements, and dignitary spotlights,” the release said. Last year’s event raised more than $70,000 according to the press release, which said “close to 100,000 NH residents over the age of 18 are either active-duty service members, in the National Guard or military veterans.” See vetscount.org/donate-now.

Ride for a cause

Iron Legacy Motorcycle Club – Freedom Crew in partnership with American Legion Post 27 and Connor’s Climb Foundation (“an organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiatives”) will host a Charity Ride for Mental Health & Suicide Awareness on Sunday, May 17, at the American Legion Post 27 in Londonderry, according to a press release. “This community-focused event aims to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention while supporting a meaningful cause,” according to the release, which said that 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Connor’s Climb (see connorsclimb.org for more on the organization). Registration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with “kickstands up” at 11:30 a.m. Participation costs $20 per rider, $30 per rider with passenger, and $10 non-rider admission to the party, which will feature food, a cash bar, raffles and more, the release said. Contact abarilone0405@gmail.com for more information.

Twilight tour

The Currier Museum of Art is selling raffle tickets for a private Twilight Tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses for up to six people featuring drinks and light bites, according to currier.org. Tickets cost $100 each and only 150 will be sold, the website said. A winner will be drawn on May 15 and proceeds will go to the Currier’s Annual Fund, according to the website, where you can purchase a ticket.

Evening at the village

The Canterbury Shaker Village will hold “Simply Shaker,” a fundraiser, on Thursday, June 25, starting at 5 p.m., according to shakers.org, where you can purchase tickets. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, live music, an opportunity “to experience traditional printing methods and to create a handmade souvenir,” dinner and a presentation about the Meeting House preservation project and the Village’s new summer internship program, the website said.

Night at camp

The New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough will host its fundraiser, “Night at the Museum: Up to Camp,” on Friday, June 5, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The event is a tribute to New Hampshire youth camps and will feature “camp-themed cuisine with a modern twist” as well as dancing, auctions and more, the release said. Guests are encouraged to wear camp-inspired attire, the release said. Tickets cost $150; see nhbm.org.

Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth will hold Springfest: A Celebration of Gardens and Baby Animals on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will feature animals, artisan vendors, sheep shearing demonstrations, hands-on activities, food trucks and a bake-off of Portsmouth orange cakes on Sunday, according to strawberybanke.org, where you can purchase tickets.

Families in Transition will hold its Walk Against Hunger on Sunday, May 17, starting at noon in Veterans Park in Manchester, according to fitnh.org, where you can register to participate in the 2.5-mile loop and find details about the after-party.

The NH Humanities Council and the New Boston Historical Society will host a program on “African American Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire During the American Revolution” with speaker Glenn Knoblock on Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at the New Boston Community Church, 2 Meetinghouse Hill Road, according to newbostonhistoricalsociety.com.

Keith O’Brien will be at Balin Books in Nashua on Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. to discuss his new book Heartland, about the life of Larry Bird and his “unlikely rise from a struggling small-town life in Indiana to college basketball stardom,” according to balinbooks.com.