Zombie Outbreak, Undead Beat Night and lots of spooky talks: Community events this week

Chamber to host Senate Candidate Breakfast

PORTSMOUTH—The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth will present a breakfast event with the two candidates for New Hampshire's U.S, Senate seat on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Atlantic Grill, 5 Pioneer Road, Rye. The Senate Candidate Breakfast Forum is open to members and non-members. Breakfast is included in the admission price.

Joining in the event one at a time will be incumbent Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan and Republican nominee (Ret.) Gen. Don Bolduc. Each candidate will speak and take questions from the audience. This is a non-partisan event for the Portsmouth business community to connect with the candidates in an informal casual setting. Campaigning at the event will not be permitted.

Admission is $30 for Chamber Collaborative members and $40 for community members. To register, and for further information, visit PortsmouthCollaborative.org/breakfast.

Talk on the Smuttynose murders

DOVER — Dover Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. will present “Case Closed on the 1873 Smuttynose Ax Murders” with historian and lecturer J. Dennis Robinson. This program is free and open to the public. For more information about this event or to sign up, visit the library’s website at library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050.

Rochester Chamber to host Candidate Forum

ROCHESTER - The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate Forum for the State Senate District 6 race as well as the State Representatives race for Rochester districts on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at Rochester City Hall, 31 Wakefield Street, in Rochester.

The forum will air live on the Rochester Government Channel - Breezline cable channel 26 and Comcast cable channel 22. You can also watch the live stream at www.rochesternh.gov. The forum will have several rebroadcasts on the cable channels and will also be available “video on demand” at the city website, www.rochesternh.gov.

Forum on increases in state's electric bills

Soaring energy bills are top-of-mind in New Hampshire these days. New Hampshire Network will present "Why are NH's electric bills so high? And what we can do about it" on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Two experts on the NH energy scene will discuss how we got here and explore ways to remedy the situation in this free virtual event. Sam Evans-Brown, executive director, Clean Energy NH, and former NHPR “Ask Sam” expert, and Donald M. Kreis, NH’s Consumer Advocate, will be featured in the discussion moderated by Joe Kwasnik, former chairman, Board of Directors, NH Electric Coop and manager of NH Network’s Legislative Working Group. Pre-registration is required at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexYQemhGIzD-j9aP8Hth9kh4YRR3ay14M46xJCTAquSkBloA/viewform. Learn more at newhampshirenetwork.org.

Practical Magic series author Alice Hoffman to speak

PORTSMOUTH - The Literary in the Lounge series will present New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman speaking about her bestselling novel, now in paperback, "The Book of Magic," at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26. The event will include an author discussion moderated by Lara Prescott, bestselling author of "The Secrets We Kept," followed by an audience Q&A. It will be held at The Music Hall Lounge at 131 Congress St., in Portsmouth.

Tickets are $35 and include a signed book, beverage, reserved seat, author discussion, Q+A, and book signing meet-and-greet. Tickets can be purchased online at TheMusicHall.org, over the phone at 603-436-2400, or in person at the box office at 28 Chestnut St.

The Capital Crime of Witchcraft talk

LEE — Just in time for Halloween, "The Capital Crime of Witchcraft" with Margo Burns will focus on the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and 1693, but also examines a variety of other cases against women in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The program will take place Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Lee Public Safety Complex, 20 George Bennett Road. The program is sponsored by New Hampshire Humanities. It is free and open to the public.

Isles of Shoals After Dark

BERWICK, Maine — On Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Berwick Public Library, Melissa Saggerer will share stories of the Isles of Shoals especially compiled for the spooky season: 14 waitresses who died in a freak boating accident, the Smuttynose murders, huge fires, a bear that escaped, and some chilling ghost stories. Saggerer worked on Star Island for eight summers, some as curator of Star Island’s Vaughn Cottage library, museum and archives.

Adult Escape Room: Zombie Outbreak

DOVER — On Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. a strange genetic mutation has led to a zombie outbreak at the Dover Public Library. Re-sequence the mutated genes and create an antidote before the outbreak spreads. This escape room is limited to 12 participants. Sign up is needed at library.dover.nh.gov.

Take a civics lesson

PORTSMOUTH — Did you know that the five members of the NH Executive Council have been called “the most powerful state officials after the Governor?” Did you know that every one of NH’s elected state officials is up for re-election every two years, and that NH is one of only two states with a two-year gubernatorial term?  That means that voting in the upcoming mid-term elections is just as important as voting in the presidential elections, although the turnout is usually much lower. On Oct. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Portsmouth Public Library will present "Civics 101: Our Government, Our Voice" in the Levenson Community Room and on Zoom to refresh your understanding of how our government works and our role in government. Free and open to all. Registration is required at  portsmouthpl.librarycalendar.com/event/civics-101.

Talk on the history of Creek Farm

PORTSMOUTH — On Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 6 p.m. join Forest Society Educator Sarah Hern for an introductory slideshow on the history of Creek Farm followed by a walk to visit some of the historical spots on the property that is lovingly referred to as a green gem of Portsmouth. To sign up, visit www.forestsociety.org/events or email tripley@forestsociety.org with registration questions.

Halloween Bash in Exeter

EXETER - On Thursday, Oct. 27 from 2:30 to 6 p.m., there'll be a Halloween Bash at the final Exeter Farmers' Market of the season. In addition to the market's regular vendors, there will be live music, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt and a costume contest. One prize will be awarded for the best costume in four categories: kid, adult, group, and vendor. The market takes place at Swasey Parkway.

Trunk or Treat in Gonic

GONIC — Join First City Cars and Trucks for their Third Annual Trunk or Treat event at 4 Flagg Road in Gonic, on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 4:30 p.m. The staff will be handing out candy from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This not so spooky event is fun for all ages and is a rain or shine indoor event. There will be a multi-category costume contest with gift card prizes. For more information, visit https://fb.me/e/3TdEuLGRh.

Crafternoon in Dover

DOVER — On Thursday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m., kids in grades one and up are invited to make and take a Halloween pom pom spider and other Halloween critters at the Dover Public Library.

Undead Beat Night to benefit Halloween Parade

PORTSMOUTH - Undead Beat Night, a fundraiser for the Portsmouth Halloween Parade, will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Portsmouth Book and Bar, 40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth. Ancient wailings, withering curses and the scribblings of madmen living, dead and otherwise all converge to curdle your blood and spoil your beer. Open mic. Bring your most frightening poetic ramblings. Sharing is scaring. Raffle prizes, beverages, costumes and all around fun, all accompanied by a spectacularly spooky soundtrack from The Beat Night Band.

Friends of Dover Public Library October Book Sale

DOVER — The Friends of the Dover Public Library are having a book sale Friday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 30 in the Library Lecture Hall. All leftovers will be free on Monday, Oct. 31. Hours will be Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The library will have hundreds of items for sale including fiction and non-fiction books, biographies, DVDS, CDs, kids’ books, cookbooks and more. Prices range from $.50 to $3, and all proceeds go to the Friends of the Dover Public Library.

Not-so-Spooky Spectacular

DOVER — Join the Children’s Museum of NH for a Not-so-Spooky Spectacular Halloween event that focuses on fun - not fright on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. with all kinds of special activities, all free with regular museum admission. Kids and adults are encouraged to come in costume to explore the exhibits and participate in a costume parade at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Please note that we do not hand out any candy for this event. Reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session on Saturday, Oct. 29 at www.childrens-museum.org.

Little World Citizens Storytime

ELIOT, Maine — On Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at William Fogg Library, guest Northern Cheyenne Elder Auntie Crow will be at story time. This event is designed for grades pre-K through 3, but all are welcome.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Zombie Outbreak, Undead Beat Night and lots of spooky talks: Community events this week