■School starts for all Merrimack Valley School District students on Aug. 31.

CHERYL STINSON

news03303@aol.com

WEST SIDEClear the shelters

■The Pope Memorial SPCA Concord-Merrimack County (94 Silk Farm Road) is participating in the nationwide Clear the Shelters through Wednesday with reduced adoption fees! Keep an eye on their website, Facebook and Instagram to view adoptable animals looking for their forever homes. For more information, call (603) 856-8756 or visit popememorialspca.org.

The Courtyard Marriott (70 Constitution Avenue) is hosting the final Music on the Patio of the summer on Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm The Courtyard partnered with NH Music Collective to bring on some talented musicians who will be from the area, but also around other parts of New England. The week’s feature musician is Mikey G. and will be free and open to the public. A cash bar will be available and lite bites offered by the Bistro inside of the Courtyard by Marriott. For more information, call Sherri Ferns at (603) 225-0303.

■The Concord Farmers Market will be open on Saturday from 8:30 am to noon and is located off of Capitol Street in Downtown Concord. The event offers 50 vendors, including a terrific selection of bakery products, meat, eggs, dairy, fruit, vegetables, fish, honey, and maple products. Many of the vendors are certified organic. Also featured are potted plants, cut flowers, wood products, dog treats, and body care products.

■Mark your calendar for the 35th Annual Concord Kiwanis Antique & Classic Car Show will on Sept. 10. The event will be held at NHTI, Concord’s Community College from 8 am to 3:30 pm There will be 17 classes with first, second and third place trophies and a Best of Show award. A giant raffle with over 60 items plus a 50/50 raffle. Kiwanis food trailer will be on-site, as well as, vendors, free parking, and restrooms are available. For more information call Chris Pappas at (603) 224-1504 or go visit ConcordKiwanis.org. The rain date is Sept. 11.

■The Suncook Valley Chorale “Open Sings” for new and current Chorale members will be held on Sept. 12 and 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Concord High School Band Room (North Fruit Street). Open Sing Nights are a chance for you to see how their rehearsals and program suit your taste. They don’t require any audition to join–instead, you audition them! The SVC board has decided that for the Fall 2022 Semester, the Chorale will be requiring all members to show a valid Covid vaccination and eligible booster/s card. Masks will be optional but are strongly recommended by the board. For more information, go to svcnh.org.

■The Concord Writers Group now has a few openings. If you’re a serious writer of any genre and would like unbiased feedback on your writing along with plenty of encouragement, perhaps this is the group for you. Meetings are held at the Concord Public Library on the first and third Saturdays of each month, starting Sept. 17 from 10 am to 1 pm For more information, call Barbara at (603) 456-6052.

LYNDA PLANTE

717-1632

soxpatscats@gmail.com

SOUTH ENDComedy show

■Best known from the Comedy Central show Tosh.ODaniel Tosh will perform an evening of stand up comedy on Sept. 10 from 7 to 9:30 pm Tickets are $49.50, $59.50, $75 and $95 at the Capitol Center, 44 S. Main St.

■Each year, we recognize an individual who has made a positive impact on the Capital Region and demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities throughout their professional career or lifetime of volunteer activities. Do you know someone who fits this description? Submit your nominations for 2022 Citizen of the Year by Sept. 19 online at concordnhchamber.com/key-events. We’ll honor the award recipient at our Annual Meeting on Nov. 2. This event is presented by Merrimack County Savings Bank. Visit https://www.concordnhchamber. com/citizen-of-the-year-online-nomination-web-page for more information.

■Customer personas can provide tremendous value and insight to your business or soon to be business. They can help develop a deeper understanding of customer needs, wants and how to solve those needs and wants. Buyer personas are semi-fictional representations of your ideal customers based on data and research. They help focus on who is and who is not a qualified prospect and can help guide new product or service development. Register at: https://merrimackvalley.score.org/event/building-customer-personas for this online via Zoom-Merrimack SCORE Class on Wednesday at 10 am

■Please join GoodLife Programs & Activities, 254 N. State St. for a free bereavement support group on Fridays, Sept. 2 to Oct. 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm as we learn more about our own grief and explore the things that can help us to heal. There is great healing power in having a supportive group of peers going through a similar experience. Bereavement specialists from BAYADA Hospice will facilitate the discussion. This is an in-person event! You must register. For more information go to: https://www.goodlifenh.org/activity/help-and-healing-for-those-who-are-grieving/2022-09-02/ or please contact Jodi at 603-724-6689 or jplitman @bayada.com.

■GoodLife Programs also asks “What is Probate? Do I need a Trust? How can a Power of Attorney help my family? Do I have to worry about the death tax? How do I protect my assets from a nursing home stay?” These questions and more will be answered at this program on Sept. 7 from 1 to 2 pm online via Zoom. The cost is $5 and you must register by Sept. 6. Every person, regardless of age or net worth, needs an estate plan. Completing an estate plan will make things easier for your family and may offer some asset protection for loved ones. The unexpected can happen, and it is important to properly document your wishes to ensure that they will be carried out. At this session, an experienced New Hampshire estate planning lawyer will share answers to the most commonly asked questions. There’s more information at https://www.goodlifenh.org/activity/top-10-questions-about-estate-planning/.

■Join GoodLife Programs for this fun class that offers something for everyone, regardless of your current fitness level. This class will help you improve your overall strength, flexibility, and balance through low-impact cardio exercise. This class allows you to go at your own pace but get your heart rate up and benefit from a good workout. You may also use a chair for seated and/or standing support, stretching and relaxation. Go to https://www.goodlifenh.org/activity/your-body -tune-up-7/2022-09-09/ for more information. Get fit on Fridays from Sept. 9 to Oct. 28 from 9:45 to 10:40 am The cost and registration is $50. You must register by Sept 8. GoodLife will email you the Zoom link.

■Let’s welcome our Abbot-Downing teachers and staff back to school with a fully stocked snack cart! The PTO has created an Amazon Wishlist so you can contribute from the comfort of your home. Please ship to the ADS address. Thank you for your support and contributions! You can also set your Amazon Smile charitable donation to Abbot-Downing School PTO!

■Megan Bannen visits Gibson’s Bookstore virtually on Sept. 6 at 7 pm to share her romantic fantasy novel, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/406334376057

■Don’t get frustrated this week! Know these street closures. The Concord Farmers Market is on Saturday and streets are closed from 6 am to 1 pm at Capitol Street, from Main Street to North State Street.

■“Party on” on Wilson Avenue at the Neighborhood Block Party just don’t try to drive there from noon to 5 pm on Sept. 4.

JEAN VER HOEVEN

856-304-5830

jeanann@voicenet.com