Project Elf, Lodge Hoop Shoot and a Holiday Show on ice: Community news
Service Credit Union shops local with Project Elf
PORTSMOUTH – Service Credit Union has been a longtime supporter of the Marine Corps’ Toys for Toys program, but this year, the credit union decided to shake things up with a new initiative called “Project Elf.”
Through this project, Service Credit Union has partnered with 10 independently owned toy stores throughout New Hampshire to purchase gifts that will then be donated to Toys for Tots, through the New Hampshire State Police’s distribution effort. Service Credit Union staff “elves” spent the week of Dec. 5 to 9 visiting stores across the state to pick up gifts, culminating in a final drop-off with the State Police in Concord on Dec. 12.
“We’re excited to make an even bigger impact with Toys for Toys this year by partnering with the many wonderful locally owned businesses right here in our home state of New Hampshire, many of whom have had a particularly rough time since the pandemic. We’re looking forward to partnering with the State Police to fill up a giant truck with toys to make sure every child in NH has a gift this year!” said Jaime Yates, community relations manager at Service Credit Union.
The stores involved in Project Elf include Toy City in Keene, Little Village Toy and Book Shop in Littleton, Toy Chest in North Conway, the Relentless Dragon in Nashua, Toys from the Attic in Somersworth, Whirlygigs in Exeter, Noggin Factory in Dover and G Willikers!, Treehouse Toys and Diversions Puzzles and Games in Portsmouth.
“I was so excited because community and giving back is what we’re all about; we do so many things with the local firefighters, and every other toy drive and benefits that happen here in town, and this was just that on a massive scale and the staff and I had such a good time shopping for all the kids,” said Noggin Factory owner Kerry Wood. “Coming out of the pandemic and some really tough years, with great support from our community, to have that support from [Service Credit Union] was enormous for us.”
Added Ian Hall, store manager at Diversions, Portsmouth: “As a local business, we really care about the community. We have a lot of families who are regular customers here and there are plenty of people who might not be able to take care of themselves this holiday season, and this effort is huge in supporting them.”
Rochester and Dover Elks hold annual Lodge Hoop Shoot
ROCHESTER - The Rochester Elks No. 1393 and Dover Elks No. 184 conducted their annual Lodge Hoop Shoot on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Rochester Recreation Center Gymnasium. Directing the event this year for Rochester was Lodge Esteemed Loyal Knight, Deanna Souza. In attendance for the Dover Elks were the following members, Exalted Ruler Allison Babel, Past Exalted Ruler Josh Virgin and Past Exalted Ruler Ron Perreault.
Twenty-one volunteers showed up to help run the event. Donations of approximately $141 were made by the members for refreshments and trophies. Results of the contest were as follows: 12-13 Boys Age Group First Place Winner Leo Cardinal, 19/25; 8-9 Boys Age Group First Place Winner Joshua Abreu, 14/25; 8-9 Boys Age Group 2nd Place Winner Dana Ricker, 13/25; 12-13 Girls Age Group 1st Place Winner Allison Bastien, 14/25; 12-13 Girls Age Group 2nd Place Winner Natalie Smith, 9/25.
Winners of this contest will move on to the District Contest to be held in Keene on Sunday, Jan. 15 at 9:30 a.m. Winners from that contest will move on to the State Contest and then to the Regionals. Finals will be held in Chicago, Illinois. The Elks Hoop Shoot Program has been in existence for over 50 years. Any boy or girl ages 8 to 13 can participate. National winners have their names inscribed and pictures posted at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Massachusetts.
For more info about this program and the Elks, visit: www.elks.org
Skaters heat up the ice in Holiday Show
DOVER — The Dover Ice Arena erupted with excitement when almost 50 skaters from the Seacoast and southern Maine took to the ice Dec. 3 and came away stars. The 48th Annual Holiday Show drew a strong crowd and showcased the talents of skaters in solo and duet numbers, a group performance, and synchronized displays.
The event was hosted by the Great Bay Figure Skating Club, the oldest skating club in New England, and featured skaters of all ages and ability levels, from as young as 5 years old through teens and adults, including competitive team skaters. The skaters performed routines to a variety of holiday music, from traditional classics to popular music.
Learn to Skate students kicked off the show skating to "Let It Show." The Club’s two Sharper Edge synchronized skating teams, recipients of recent silver and bronze medals, also performed. Skaters presenting solos and duets expressed their creativity through professionally crafted routines or self-choreographed numbers. The show ended with a performance by the University of New Hampshire Synchronized Skating Team, comprised of skaters from six states. The UNH team earned a silver medal at a recent regional competition.
Learn to Skate USA lessons are offered Saturday mornings at the Dover Ice Arena, along with private lessons, and competitive team skating. For more information on the Great Bay Figure Skating Club and how to join, visit www.greatbayfigureskating.org.
Thom Hindle donates book series to Dover public schools
DOVER – Local historian and photographer Thom Hindle donated complete sets of his two-book series, "Dover, New Hampshire Through Time: Volumes I and II," to all of Dover’s public schools recently.
Students of teacher Eric Salmonsen’s advanced placement history class were on hand at the Dover High School library to receive the books on behalf of all public schools. In addition to Salmonsen and his class, Dover High School Librarian Kristin Whitworth was also on hand to accept the donation.
Salmonsen said the donation of books focusing on Dover history during the history class was fitting because students in his class are working with Dover400, the committee planning Dover’s 400th anniversary celebration in 2023. Salmonsen said the students are working on a timeline of Dover’s history for Dover400, and Hindle’s books would be “indispensable.”
“I hope the books will help students become interested in Dover’s history and want to find out more about the past after seeing the early photographs,” Hindle said. “Being able to actually see the past complements what they may read or hear in class or from grandparents.”
The second volume of Hindle’s “Dover, New Hampshire Through Time” series was released in August. Both books feature hundreds of photographs and illustrations of Dover's past and present, as well as recognition and information on some of Dover’s early photographers. Photos from the past are reproduced from original negatives printed in sepia tone and the present in full color. The books also include early invoices and trade cards. Many of the photographs in the books, some dating back to 1860, appear in print for the first time.
Hindle is a commercial photographer, local historian and former trustee-curator at the Woodman Museum. He has preserved over 100,000 original negatives taken by New England photographers from early 1900s to present.
Signed copies of both volumes are available for sale at the City Clerk’s Office at Dover City Hall, 288 Central Ave., and the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 550 Central Ave.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Project Elf, Lodge Hoop Shoot and Holiday Show on ice: Community news
