Farmers markets, free admission to museums: Community news update

Portsmouth hosts Arbor Day Ceremony at Little Harbour Elementary

PORTSMOUTH — On Friday, April 28 the city hosted its annual Arbor Day Celebration and planted a dozen trees at starting at Little Harbour Elementary School on Clough Drive.

The Arbor Day Foundation again named Portsmouth a Tree City USA as it has for the past 20 years and has awarded the Tree Growth Award to the city’s Department of Public Works Parks and Greenery Division. To honor this commitment and in honor of the city’s 400th anniversary, the division implemented the “400 Trees for the 400th” initiative. Earlier this month, 200 residents collected free trees to plant in their yards. The Arbor Day trees are among the additional 200 trees now being planted around the city. As part of this effort, Portsmouth Rotary has donated 100 trees in commemoration of their 100th anniversary.

Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley read the Mayor’s Proclamation of Arbor Day saying, “Portsmouth celebrates its history with the 10,000 trees in our urban forest that provide natural and historic character and are preserved with professional care, yearly tree plantings and inventory management to maintain the forest’s diversity for the enjoyment of the entire community.”

Also participating in the ceremony were City Manager Karen Conard,  City Arborist Superintendent Max Wiater, Portsmouth Rotary President Joan Dickinson, members of the City of Portsmouth Trees & Public Greenery Committee and members of the Portsmouth High School Eco-Club.

Information: portsnh.co/PortsmouthTrees.

Free admission to the Children's Museum of New Hampshire for military members

DOVER — The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is once again participating in a Military Appreciation program called “Blue Star Museums” this summer which offers free admission for active or retired military members, their spouses, and their dependent children from Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 20) through Sunday, Sept. 3. This year’s free admission program is made possible by sponsor Service Credit Union. Information: childrens-museum.org/visit/accessibility

Lee Farmers Market kicks off May 24

LEE — The Lee Farmers Market starts on Wednesday, May 24, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Little River Park. There will be food and live music. The Lee Public Library will provide activities and crafts for kids. Vendors include Coppal House Farm, Theresa Fittante, Eleanor Boy Crafts, Flour Arts, Imperial Moth Glass, The Hollister Family Farm, Ridgetop Rustics, and Hickory Nut Farm.

Seacoast Eat Local’s summer farmers’ market season kicks off

DOVER – Seacoast Eat Local kicked off its farmers market season May 6.

SEL operates the Portsmouth, Exeter, Durham, and Dover outdoor summer farmers’ markets from May-November and the inside Rollinsford and Stratham Winter Farmers’ Markets from November to April.

All markets also offer Granite State Market Match to SNAP recipients. For every $1 spent on an EBT card, a $1 in fruit and vegetable coupons is given to the shopper. To learn more about this program, stop by the information tent at each market.

Save the opening dates for all of Seacoast Eat Local summer markets and find a full list of local farmers’ markets at seacoasteatlocal.org/summer-farmers-markets:

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, began May 6 at City Hall, 1 Junkins Ave

Thursdays, 2:30 to 6 p.m. b,eginning May 11 at Swasey Parkway

Wednesdays, 2:30 to 6 p.m., beginning June 7 at Guppey Park, 110 Portland Ave

Mondays, 2:30 to 6 p.m., beginning June 5 at 66 Main St.

Seacoast Science Center to offer free admission to military families

RYE — Seacoast Science Center is a participating Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families this summer from Armed Forces Day, May 20 through Labor Day, Sept. 5. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the U.S. military — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps — and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card.

Details on how to access admission can be found by following the hours, fees and guidelines link under the Visit tab at www.seacoastsciencecenter.org. The  required Odiorne Point State Park fee is not included.

Nominations sought for Annual Plan NH Merit Awards of Excellence

PORTSMOUTH — Nominations are currently being sought for Plan NH’s 2023 Merit Awards of Excellence. The Merit Awards program is designed to "recognize and showcase outstanding projects that demonstrate how the built environment can make a positive contribution to people and places and reflect the mission and values of Plan NH.” All nominations are reviewed for their connection to Smart Growth and Livability principles, their creative approach to cooperation and coordination, and their positive community impact regarding social, economic, environmental, and/or inclusivity factors.

Plan NH is accepting applications through May 12. The nominations will be promptly reviewed by a jury of diverse professionals from across the state. Award recipients will be notified and honored at the Plan NH Annual Merit & Scholarship Awards Banquet on June 21, at Hotel Concord. Additional information and nomination guidelines can be found on PlanNH.org or by contacting Executive Director Tiffany Tononi McNamara at P.O. Box 1105 Portsmouth, NH 03802; via phone at 603-452-PLAN, or email: tiffany@plannh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Farmers markets, free admission to museums: Community news update