Historic awards

The Manchester Historic Association has selected five honorees for its 31st Annual Historic Preservation Awards. According to a press release, the awards recognize and support the efforts of individuals, businesses and organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation of buildings, neighborhoods, traditions and other historic resources in Manchester. The honorees include the city’s recently restored Civil War Memorial at Veterans Park for the City Landmark Award; Michael and Lynn Murphy for the Homeowner’s Award; Linda Murphy of Bare Knuckle Murphy’s Boxing for the Adaptive Reuse Award; Grace Episcopal Church’s Grace House for the Stewardship Award; and Justine “Brownie” Gengras for the Lifetime Achievement Award. An awards celebration will be held on Tuesday, May 23, at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

Historic places

The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has added three properties to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, according to a press release. The properties include Blazing Star Grange Hall No. 71 in Danbury, built in 1911 under the leadership of the group’s first female master; the Dudley Gilman Homestead in Belmont, built by Revolutionary War veteran Corporal Dudley Gilman in circa 1785; and the Milford Town Hall and Library Annex, built in 1869 and designed by prominent Boston architect Gridley J. F. Bryant. Visit nh.gov/nhdhr to learn more about the properties.

Statewide report card

The New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System will be administered to students from March 7 through June 16 to track and evaluate educational progress in the state. According to a press release, the testing will measure English language arts and math proficiency among students in grades 3 through 8 and science proficiency among students in grades 5, 8 and 11. SAT exams will be administered to high school juniors between March 22 and April 4, depending on the district. “Assessment data allows school districts to create targeted strategies for students performing at the lower end of the achievement scale, as well as accelerated students that are highly advanced, which is vitally important in the aftermath of the pandemic,” Frank Edelblut, education commissioner, said in the release. “Understanding the data helps to improve teaching, identify supports and determine whether interventions are necessary — knowing that the needs of our students are our top priority.” The New Hampshire Department of Education has partnered with Tutor.com to provide free tutoring and test preparation services to students in grades 6 through 12. Visit tutor.com/nhed for details on how to access those services.

Leadership NH

Leadership New Hampshire is accepting applications for its intensive statewide leadership program. According to a press release, the program connects and educates a diverse cohort of emerging and established leaders in the state to increase civic engagement and strengthen communities. Over 10 months, from September 2023 to May 2024, participants will attend 12 seminar sessions across the state, exploring topics such as the justice system, education, culture and arts, government and politics, health care, the environment, and the economy. Applicants should demonstrate passionate commitment to New Hampshire’s future, accomplishment in their field, involvement in community activities and the time and energy to devote to the sessions. The application submission deadline is March 15. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by June. Visit leadershipnh.org or email info@leadershipnh.org.

Arts partnership

Kimball Jenkins, a community arts and cultural center in Concord, has partnered with Queerlective, a statewide group based in Manchester, as a fiscal sponsor to help the group in its mission to provide more support to New Hampshire’s diverse creative community and create inclusive and safe spaces where the arts can be used for personal and community growth. “Queerlective has been a leader in producing art happenings and events that center queer,

BIPOC and underserved communities,” Julianne Gadoury, executive director of Kimball Jenkins, said in a press release. “Kimball Jenkins is honored to serve as a fiscal sponsor, which will allow people who are part of these communities, and most closely connected, to lift up and amplify their voices and needs in the most authentic way possible.” Visit kimballjenkins.com and queerlective.com.

New mascot

New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord’s Community College, has introduced a new design for its mascot, Leroy the Lynx. According to a press release, the design, created by NHTI visual arts student Valerie Deforge and selected by a campus-wide vote, depicts Leroy with bold lines, fresh colors and expressive motion. “Our new design pays homage to our historical Leroy the Lynx and evolves us into the modern era of collegiate community and competition,” Amber Gavriluk, NHTI’s marketing officer, said in the release. “Leroy represents the new rallying point around which our students, faculty, and staff can feel belonging in our diverse community. And this new design offers a strong brand identity and personality that can lead us boldly into the future.” NHTI will replace previous mascot designs with the new one over the next year.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will host a public informational meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Community Building in Loudon (29 S. Village Road) to discuss proposed improvements at the intersection of Route 106, South Village Road and Chichester Road in Loudon. According to a press release, these would include widening the road and adding signalization to the intersection. Visit nh.gov/dot/projects to learn more.

Canterbury Shaker Village, a completely preserved Shaker village established in 1792, received a nearly $110,000 matching grant award from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program to fund construction of a new roof for its Dwelling House, a National Historic Landmark. The project is expected to begin this spring, according to a press release.

New Hampshire residents pursuing post-secondary education in medicine, nursing or social work are invited to apply for the Yarnold Scholarship. Funded by a trust established by Rollinsford couple Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold, scholarships are awarded to 30 to 40 students each year in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, according to a press release. Interested students may call Yarnold Scholarship administrative representative Laura Ramsdell at 766-9121 to receive an application.