Hazardous waste collection day, EMS week: Community news update
Rochester Elks No.1393 conducts annual Kids Fishing Derby
ROCHESTER — Saturday, May 7, was a cold and windy day at the Farmington Fish and Game Club in New Durham, N.H., but that did not deter the enthusiasm of the 23 youngsters who showed up with their parents and grandparents to see who could win the prizes for “First Fish” and “Biggest Fish” caught in the Elks Annual Fishing Derby for Kids.
Fishing started at 8 a.m. and concluded at noon time with trophies being presented to the lucky winners, complimentary prizes for all and some snacks served to all who attended. Even Spider Man made an appearance!
Over 20 Elks members and officers volunteered to conduct the event, according to Peter Ducharme, Derby Chairman and Lodge Leading Knight. These members also made generous cash and material donations to supplement this annual youth activity. Ducharme said he was very grateful for all the support he received for this program and said he was extremely proud of the effort put forth by all involved.
Winners were as follows: First Fish, Ages 4-6 Zeke Zombeck; Ages 7-8 Lucas Trepanier; Ages 9-10 Colton Lloyd and Ages 11-12 Elise Trepanier. Largest Fish, Ages 4-6 Zeke Zombeck 13’’; Ages 7-8 Boyd Partridge 9 1/2”; Ages 9-10 Zack MacNevin 10” and Ages 11-12 Elise Trepanier 9”.
The Rochester Elks have been conducting this derby for decades and it is just one of many events that the Lodge holds for its youth activities program. The Lodge also conducts an annual Hoop Shoot Contest and Soccer Shoot contest which are open to all children in the various age brackets, and a Christmas Party for the children of members. Rochester Lodge also sends underprivileged kids to the State Elks Major Project, Copper Cannon Summer Camp in Bethlehem, NH. Kids get to spend a week at the camp without any expense. Rochester Lodge also distributes Drug Awareness information to elementary school age children to make them aware of the dangers of illegal drug use. Rochester Lodge was charted in 1920 and currently has over 930 members. Since inception the Lodge has contributed over $8.7 million dollars in cash and non-cash donations to the Lilac city community.
For more information about the Elks, visit http://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/OJl9CM8KLQHxJy2W4SwLj9N?domain=elks.org.
The Opportunity Alliance seeks clients for Senior Companion volunteers
KITTERY, Maine – The Opportunity Alliance is seeking clients for their Senior Companion volunteers. Volunteers, age 55 and older, assist homebound elders and isolated adults who need help to maintain their independence. They can also provide respite for caregivers. They may provide transportation to doctor’s appointments or other essential errands and can offer companionship and socialization through weekly visits.
Senior Companion volunteers are thoroughly vetted and trained and have passed criminal history and background checks. There is no cost involved to being partnered with a Senior Companion.
To learn more about the program, visit opportunityalliance.org/senior-companion-program. To get more information on how to request a Senior Companion volunteer for yourself or someone you know, call 207-773-0202 or email scp@opportunityalliance.org.
Portsmouth Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day May 21
PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Department of Public Works will hold its biannual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, May 21, at the Public Works facility at 680 Peverly Hill Road. Residents of Portsmouth, Greenland and Newington are encouraged to bring household chemicals for safe disposal between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Proof of residency is required.
Collection Day is organized as a drive-through service. Residents remain in their vehicles and pull through the Public Works garage, where staff will remove disposable items from car trunks. Residents will be asked verbally about their town of residence for survey purposes, in compliance with EPA requirements.
Items that qualify for collection include the following:
From the yard: fertilizer with pesticides or fungicides, insect spray, lighter fluid, pest strips/traps, pesticides, poisons and pool chemicals.
From the garage: acids, car waxes/polish, creosote, driveway sealer/tar, flea powder, gasoline, radiator fluid and roofing tar.
From the house: bathroom cleaner, disinfectants, furniture polish, metal polish, mothballs, oven cleaner, photo chemicals, rug cleaner and wood strippers.
From the workbench: brush cleaner, corrosives, lead and oil-based paint/stain/finish, rust preventive solvents, thinner/turpentine and wood preservatives.
Items that do NOT qualify include:
Empty containers for household items, which may be disposed of in the regular trash collection.
Explosives
Asbestos
Medical waste
Latex paint. To prepare latex paint for regular disposal at the Recycling Center or through trash pick-up, solidify the paint by adding kitty litter, sawdust or SpeediDri; or open the can to allow the liquid to dry out before disposal.
For more information on the Recycling Center, visit www.cityofportsmouth.com/publicworks/solid-waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-day.
Rochester’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day May 21
ROCHESTER — Rochester’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Turnkey Landfill, 18 Isinglass Drive (off from Rochester Neck Road). Please note: The Residential Drop Off will be closed during this time.
You can bring up to 10 gallons of the following to the HHW Day Site:
House and Garden Products: Weed killers and fertilizers, no -pest strips; ant spray and baits; bug and rodent-sprays; poisons; flea repellents; and shampoos; bug sprays; houseplant, insecticides; oven cleaners, drain; toilet cleaners; wood/metal cleaners and polishes; rug cleaners, bleach, pool chemicals, tub, tile and shower cleaners; button cell and lithium batteries.
Garage Products: Car wax and polish; fuel additives; carburetor/fuel injector cleaner's air conditioning refrigerants starter fluids; creosote; antifreeze, transmission and brake fluid.
Workshop/Painting Products: Oil or enamel based paint stains and finishes, paint strippers and removers; photographic chemicals; fixatives, adhesives, glues or other solvents.
Items Not Accepted at the Collection Day Site: Latex paint; motor oil/tires/computers; zinc carbon and alkaline batteries; recyclable batteries and fluorescent bulbs; car batteries; propane tanks.
Ten gallons of HHW is an estimated amount, reasonable amounts will not be turned away, this is household disposal only, and no businesses may use this site. Questions regarding amounts and accepted items please call Rochester DPW @603-332-4096.
Cold Moon Farm to offer equine-assisted coaching programs
ROCHESTER — Cold Moon Farm, LLC, announces the official launch of its new equine-assisted coaching programs this summer. Equine-assisted coaching is a unique experiential education tool in which participants engage with horses to improve life skills necessary to reach personal, professional and/or educational goals.
All programs are facilitated by Cold Moon Farm’s principal horseman and lead facilitator, Christina Keim, M.Ed., M.F.A. Keim brings a lifetime of equestrian experience and nearly two decades of mentorship work in academia to her programming. All activities are unmounted, and no previous equine experience is required.
“Horses are large and powerful animals, but they are also uniquely sensitive and attuned to their environment, both their physical world and the social cues of their herd mates,” says Keim. “In our programs, participants learn about themselves through studying and interacting with our horses in professionally-facilitated activities.”
This year’s programming will kick off in June with the Yes She Can! Women’s Empowerment and Mindfulness Seminar Series. Beginning in July, Cold Moon Farm will also offer three separate weeks of Equine Explorer, an unmounted horsemanship-based camp for youth aged 8 to 13. Individual or small group custom coaching sessions are also available.
Please visit coldmoonfarm.org for more information or to sign up today.
CASA Cares raises record $400,000 for state's children
MANCHESTER – CASA of New Hampshire, a nonprofit that trains volunteers to advocate for children experiencing abuse and neglect, raised $400,000 at its annual fundraising gala, CASA Cares: An Evening of Giving for New Hampshire’s Children, held on Friday, May 6.
Presented by Novocure, the event was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. This year, CASA Cares featured a live auction, wine and spirits grab, jewelry raffle, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. There was also a virtual option for those who wished to view from home.
“The overwhelming support that was shown at this event simply reinforced for me that so many folks from across the state truly understand and are deeply committed to CASA’s life-changing work,” said Marcia Sink, president and CEO of CASA of New Hampshire.
The evening’s speakers included Sink, Amy Coveno, CASA of New Hampshire’s Board of Directors Co-Chair, and Mike Ambrogi, CASA of New Hampshire Board Member and Senior Technology Fellow at Novocure. Guests also heard from U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas and Gov. Chris Sununu who both shared powerful remarks about the valuable impact CASA has on children and youth throughout the Granite State.
Auctioneer Mark Fodero entertained the crowd as they bid on live auction items including vacation packages, Red Sox tickets, and camping equipment from NEMO. There was also an opportunity to bid on a virtual Happy Half Hour with Seth Meyers and personalized signed copies of his new book, “I’m Not Scared, YOU’RE Scared.”
Audience members then viewed a video highlighting three stories including a reunification, an adoption, and a former CASA child’s lasting bond with her CASA volunteer advocate. One of the featured advocates in the video, Marty Cloran, attended the event and received a standing ovation as he took the stage with the two now-grown adults he advocated for years ago.
The money raised during the event helps CASA reach its goal of having a trained advocate available for every child New Hampshire who is involved in the child protection system.
Since 1989, CASA of New Hampshire has provided a voice for abused and neglected children in New Hampshire by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.
To learn more about CASA and how to get involved or support this statewide nonprofit, visit www.casanh.org.
Dover Fire & Rescue honors its EMS providers during National EMS Week
DOVER – Dover Fire and Rescue honors and celebrates its dedicated emergency medical service (EMS) providers who keep Dover’s residents and visitors safe during the 47th annual National EMS Week that begins May 15.
Dover’s EMS personnel consists of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, dispatchers, educators, emergency nurses, and emergency physicians, who provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They play critical roles in the “chain of survival” that dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.
EMS providers have committed to hundreds of hours of training, with continued education annually, to ensure Dover’s residents and guests receive the best possible care. This training allows Dover Fire & Rescue’s emergency responders to respond to and handle any emergency or request for service. These responders continue to assist those in need with the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing opioid crisis, and the increased calls for mental health assistance with excellence and professionalism.
“Our EMS providers are core components of Dover’s public safety and committed to fulfilling the city’s medical needs, often going beyond just emergency medicine,” said Dover Fire and Rescue Chief Michael McShane. “A week of celebrating them and their courageous work is a small token of appreciation for their dedication to saving lives in our city.”
McShane also expressed appreciation and thanks to regional partners, such as Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, the freestanding Dover Emergency Room, and EMS mutual aid providers.
“Our success in providing critical care to Dover’s residents and guests is also dependent on the vital role these dedicated partners play in our community,” McShane said.
National EMS Week this year is from May 15 to 21. Held annually since President Gerald Ford authorized it in 1974, it honors the contributions of those who work on the medical front line.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hazardous waste collection day, EMS week: Community news update
