Category: News

Celebrating Christa McAuliffe

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord will hold “Reach for the Stars: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe” Saturday, Jan. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 1, according to the Center’s website, starhop.com. “Join us as we honor the legacy of Christa McAuliffe and the STS-51L Challenger crew. Together, we remember their lives, their courage, and their enduring impact on education and space exploration,” the website said. Concord school teacher McAuliffe and the crew of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger died on Jan. 28, 1986, shortly after the shuttle’s launch. The NHPBS documentary Christa will be shown throughout the week in the Planetarium, the website said.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the center will hold a program called “Reach for the Stars: Then, Now, & Forever” from 5 to 7:30 p.m. that will include “Christa’s Lost Lessons with NASA Astronaut, Ricky Arnold,” the unveiling of a new Christa McAuliffe exhibit and a panel discussion, the website said. Deadproof Pizza Co. will be on site for patrons to purchase dinner starting at 4 p.m., the website said.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, the center will host “Challenger: Soaring with Christa McAuliffe,” described on the website: “Journey through Christa’s life in this multi-media immersive living history performance, suitable for all ages.” Doors open at 5 p.m.

Go online to purchase tickets to either event or to purchase admission tickets for the week-long programming and reserve planetarium tickets.

Wash your hands

The Manchester Health Department reported that respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV and Covid-19, and norovirus (known for its stomach-related symptoms) are “actively circulating, statewide,” according to a Jan. 13 press release “Area hospitals are experiencing much higher than expected admissions and emergency department visits related to respiratory illnesses,” the release said. In the statement, Anna Thomas, MPH, Manchester’s Public Health Director said “We have officially entered the beginning peak of cold and flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates that this will last for a period of up to three months.” Recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses include getting a flu shot, washing hands often for at least 20 seconds and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and throwing tissues in the trash after using them, disinfecting high-traffic surfaces and staying home from school or work until “your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines” if you get sick, the release said.

New Hampshire author Mary Anne Totten will hold a reading of her book Silos, Secrets, and Silence at Bookery in Manchester on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. See bookerymht.com for more on the event and matottenwrites.com for more on the author.

Thursday, Jan. 22, is Oscar nominations morning; see oscars.org at 8:30 a.m. for the announcements by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman. Then settle in for some movie talk with the Derry Public Library at their “2025: The Year in Film” Zoom presentation on Monday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Register at derrypl.org.

The Live Free or Die Farm, 11 Cricket Hill Drive in Amherst, will hold its annual Christmas Tree Burn and Bonfire Party on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 5 to 9 p.m., according to the listing on eventbrite.com, where you can find details about food and reserve a spot.

NH Pipes and Drums and Scottish Arts will hold a Burns Night celebration on Saturday, Jan. 24, starting at 5 p.m. at Castleton in Windham. The night will feature haggis, Highland dancers, whisky, Ceilidh dancing, live music, Burns poetry and more, according to nhssa.org, where you can purchase tickets.

MLK Day

In the coming days, local organizations will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with special programming. In Manchester, the Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., will be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature curator-led tours of Black American artists in the Currier collection, art-making for all ages and “a keynote presentation with Jada Hebra, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Southern New Hampshire University,” according to an email from the museum. See currier.org.

The NH Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition will hold its 2026 MLK Jr. Community Celebration “Uplifting Resistance through Community” on Monday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial High School in Manchester featuring a choir, according to mlknh.org.

“Let Freedom Ring for All” will take place Saturday, Jan. 17, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Portsmouth Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St. in Portsmouth, according to a press release. The program will feature local musicians and speakers including “Sharon Jones, Randy Armstrong, Kent Ally, Carol Coronis, the Leftist Marching Band, TJ Wheeler, Hatrack Gallagher, Poor Howard Stith, Kiyoshi Imani, Fran Calo, Bruce Pingree, Bob Moore, Katie Hart & the Voices of Hope, David Holt and others,” the release said.

Art contest

The New Hampshire Children’s System of Care, an organization focused on children’s behavioral health care services, is accepting submissions through April 26 for its Magnify Voices Expressive Art Contest for students in grades 5 to 12, according to a press release. The works can be visual art, writing or other media that “express their experience with mental health,” the release said. Submissions can include short videos of two minutes or less, an essay or poem of 1,000 words or less, or visual art such as sculpture, photography, painting or diorama, the release said. An exhibit of the submissions will be featured at a May 27 event at the Kingswood Art Center in Wolfeboro, the release said. A panel of judges will choose 12 finalists who will receive a $250 cash prize, the release said. See nhcsoc.org/participate.

GM leaves

Tim Bechert has left his role as General Manager of the SNHU Arena in downtown Manchester, according to a Jan. 8 press release. “Bechert, who led the facility since its opening in 2001, is transitioning to focus on community-oriented endeavors,” the release said.

Commish retires

New Hampshire Department of Transportation Commissioner William J. “Bill” Cass will retire at the end of February, according to a Jan. 7 press release from the office of Gov. Kelly Ayotte. Cass has worked for the state for 40 years, the release said. “The Governor’s Office will begin an immediate search for a replacement commissioner,” the release said.

Open captions

Red River Theatres in Concord was slated to kick off its Open Caption Wednesdays with screenings on Wednesday, Jan. 14, according to a press release. Wednesdays will feature open captions — on-screen text of dialogue and relevant no-dialogue sounds — on all screenings where the caption files are available, the release said. See redrivertheatres.org.

The Queen City Rotary’s Comedy Bowl will feature Kyle Crawford, Will Noonan and headliner Mark Riley on Saturday, Jan. 31, at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, with doors opening at 5 p.m. for a social hour, a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. opening remarks, according to queencityrotary.org, where you can purchase tickets.

A new DMV branch opened to the public on Jan. 12 in the Raymond Shopping Center at 17 Freetown Road in Raymond, replacing the Epping office on Calef Highway, which closed on Jan. 9, according to press releases from the NH Department of Safety. To make an appointment at a DMV office, see dmv.nh.gov.