The cross on the Grantham United Methodist Church was lit on Jan. 5th in memory of Hugh Reney and on Jan. 9th in memory of Ella Reney by Joey Holmes.  It will be lit on Feb. 7th in memory of Elizabeth Swensen by Mr. & Mrs. Norman Fontaine, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Swensen  and Naomi Sanborn.

Volunteers are needed to serve on the Zoning Board, Planning Board and Capital Improvement Plan Committee.  If you are interested in volunteering on any of these boards/committees please contact Town Administrator Melissa White at 603-863-6021 or admin@granthamnh.net.

Quieres mejorar su espanol por hablando con otras personas con regularidad? Estamos planeando un grupo de conversacion en espanol. Nuestro primer reunion estara el lunes, enero 21, a las tres en la tarde al casa de Judy McCarthy, 11 Fernwood Lane en Eastman. Venga!

If you would like more information about this Spanish conversation group, e-mail Judy (mccarthy.judy@gmail.com) or call her at 863-5663.

Family to Family helps family members and friends gain a greater understanding of mental illness, cope better, worry less and feel newly empowered to advocate for better treatment and services for their loved one.

Sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Upper Valley Affiliate of NAMI-NH, the program will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 21 through April 8 in New London. Registration is required. Contact Monique J. at 558-0774 or Donna S. at 843-7159.

The Grantham School Board will hold the following meetings, both beginning at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the 2013-14 district budget:
Tuesday, Jan. 22: public hearing prep meeting in the music room
Tuesday, Feb. 5: public hearing in the cafeteria

The filing period for town and school offices begins Jan. 23 and closes Feb. 1. File for town positions at the Town Clerk’s Office and for the school district positions at the SAU Office, each during regular hours. Additionally, each office will be open until 5 p.m. Feb. 1 for last minute filings.

The following town positions will be open:

Selectman 3-year term

Planning Board 3-year term

Town Clerk/Tax Collector 3-year term

Trustee of the Trust Funds 3-year term

Cemetery Trustee 3-year term

Trustee of the Dunbar Free Library 3-year term, 2 positions

The following school district positions will be open:

Moderator 1-year term
District Clerk 1- year term
Treasurer 1-year term
School Board member 3-year term

 

The annual school meeting will be held March 5. The annual Town Meeting and Election of Town Officers will be March 12.

BINGO: The Grantham Parent Teacher Group will be hosting Bingo Night and Basket Raffle 6:30-7:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 at Grantham Village School. This is a free night of fun with Bingo prizes donated from local businesses, including gift cards, equipment rentals, books, games, chocolates and more. Bring your own reusable bingo markers (pennies work well); two-card maximum per person.

Basket Raffle: The GPTG Basket Raffle tickets are available at the door Jan. 25 or by contacting Erin Ames in advance at eeajpa@comcast.net $5 ea. or 6 for $25. You need not be present to win! There are 14 themed, laundry-size baskets available to win. Themes include: Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Fun, Cooking, Fitness, Family Entertainment, Road Trip, Camping, Science and Nature!

Italian Dinner Night: The sixth grade class will host an Italian Dinner Fundraiser 5-6:15 p.m. at the school. For further details, contact GVS at 863-1681.

The New England Handicapped Sports Association will be offering individual adaptive or group family lessons in cross country skiing or snowshoeing 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27at the Eastman Cross Country Center. Contact NEHSA, 763-9158 or info@nehsa.org for more information.

Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon continues its 21^st year Sunday, Jan. 27 with saxophonist Greg Abate (www.gregabate.com).

The program runs from 4 to 7 p.m.; doors open at 3. Tickets are $18/adult; $16/senior or student (62 and older or 17 and younger). Reservations are recommended by contacting the Wightsteeple Box Office at 763-8732 or bill.wightman@comcast.net. For reservations after 2 p.m. the day of the show, call Bistro Nouveau at 863-8000. Visit www.josajazz.com for a schedule and complete details on season passes and tickets to individual performances. Bistro menu and full bar available.

The next performance will be Feb. 9 with vocalist David Scott, who is participating in JOSA for the first time.

There’s a wide world outside Grantham Village School, and a community art project, with the help of artist-in-residence Annie Ballin, will encourage students to use their education and "take flight" beyond the doors of the school.

"The ‘Take Flight!’ program enables students to gain a better understanding of self, home, community and a larger world where their dreams may take them," says Ballin, a New London-based watercolorist, teacher and designer. "Combining creativity, research and language skills children will gain a better understanding the importance of believing in one’s hopes and dreams, the community that supports and help those dreams take flight."

Take Flight! is a three-dimensional art project based on birds. Wood laminate has already been installed in the back wall of the cafeteria and Ballin has painted a portion of the sky and lake background. Students in all grades will make birds, trees, grass and nests out of a variety of mediums; for example, kindergarteners will create textured leaves, first graders will use watercolors to paint grass, fifth graders will make duct tape ducks, and sixth graders, clay owls. Where extra time is available, students will work on Styrofoam water blocks and twisted paper trees.

Workshops will take place Jan. 28 through Feb. 8 in the art room under the supervision of Ballin and GVS art teacher Betty Larrabee. Adults will install the components and cover the display with Plexiglas. It will remain up for a limited time, then the space will be used for future displays.

The project is sponsored by the Grantham Teacher Parent Group, which raises money throughout the year to support GVS staff, students and families. The GTPG hosts a popular, family-friendly, annual BINGO night (information above); supports the Books and Beyond program to encourage student reading outside of the classroom; and offers grants to teachers for the classroom materials.

The Grantham United Methodist Church will host the following events:
Saturday, Feb 2 at 6 p.m.: Community potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share.
Saturday, Feb. 16: Community dinner. Specifics to follow.

Take Flight! Artist in Residence encourages students to fly

There’s a wide world outside Grantham Village School, and a community art project, with the help of artist-in-residence Annie Ballin, will encourage students to use their education and "take flight" beyond the doors of the school.

"The ‘Take Flight!’ program enables students to gain a better understanding of self, home, community and a larger world where their dreams may take them," says Ballin, a New London-based watercolorist, teacher and designer. "Combining creativity, research and language skills children will gain a better understanding the importance of believing in one’s hopes and dreams, the community that supports and help those dreams take flight."

Take Flight! is a three-dimensional art project based on birds. Wood laminate has already been installed in the back wall of the cafeteria and Ballin has painted a portion of the sky and lake background. Students in all grades will make birds, trees, grass and nests out of a variety of mediums; for example, kindergarteners will create textured leaves, first graders will use watercolors to paint grass, fifth graders will make duct tape ducks, and sixth graders, clay owls. Where extra time is available, students will work on Styrofoam water blocks and twisted paper trees.

Workshops will take place Jan. 28 through Feb. 8 in the art room under the supervision of Ballin and GVS art teacher Betty Larrabee. Adults will install the components and cover the display with Plexiglas. It will remain up for a limited time, then the space will be used for future displays.

The project is sponsored by the Grantham Teacher Parent Group, which raises money throughout the year to support GVS staff, students and families. The GTPG hosts a popular, family-friendly, annual BINGO night (information above); supports the Books and Beyond program to encourage student reading outside of the classroom; and offers grants to teachers for the classroom materials.

The Grantham United Methodist Church will host the following events:
Saturday, Feb 2 at 6 p.m.: Community potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share.
Saturday, Feb. 16: Community dinner. Specifics to follow.

The Blue Mountain Snowdusters ORC will hold a regular club meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Grantham Town Hall.

The 2nd Annual Loppet for David's House is now accepting registrations. The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 16 with start times between 9 a.m. and noon. Minimum pledges required, with proceeds going to David’s House: $50/adult; $15/child; $125/family. Participants who raise a minimum of $300.78 will receive a Skida fleece-lined Nordic hat and commemorative pin. Complete details and registration at www.davids-house.org/loppet.

Registration for the 2013 Splash, Mash and Dash Triathlon is now open. This year’s event will be held Saturday, June 15. As always, the triathlon is limited in the number of participants it can accommodate; last year, both adult and child fields filled early. Go to www.eastmannh.org/tri for complete details and to register.

• Dunbar Free Library’s Laptime for ages up to 36 months is held at 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Storytime for ages 3-5 years is held at 10 a.m. Thursdays. Adults are required to attend with their children.

• Grantham United Methodist Church worship service at 9 a.m. each Sunday, with Pastor Patricia Williams. Everyone is welcome to attend.

• CG Shepherd Realty collects coats year-round to be distributed to people in need. Drop off gently used coats at Shepherd’s Grantham office in Sawyer Brook Plaza, in the coat collections can, or in one of Shepherd’s Smart Cars when you see them parked around town.

• The morning walking program continues at Grantham Village School gym from 7:30 to 8 a.m. each morning that school is in session. Participants must bring clean sneakers to wear while walking.

• ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge every Thursday at 1 p.m. at The Center at Eastman. $3/person. Everyone welcome regardless of experience. Arrive early to help set up.

• The Grantham Food Pantry is accepting donations at 65 Roses, Dunbar Free Library or Grantham Town Hall. The pantry at 65 Roses is open for food pick up from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call Caitlin at 361-2604 or visit www.granthamfoodpantry.org.

Winter Parking Ordinance: No vehicle parking on any street or way or in a public parking lot within the Town of Grantham between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Nov. 1 to April 1. Vehicles towed at owner’s expense and violators will be subject to a fine of $50.

Town Winter Sand: The Town of Grantham will provide sand for all residents during the winter months. Sand is available for private use only and to be collected by private individuals. There shall be NO use of the sand facility by Commercial Sanding/Plow Operators. Sand is to be taken from the designated area and residents ARE NOT ALLOWED to remove sand from the Highway Department’s sand shed. If the designated area is empty please notify the Selectmen’s Office. Violators will be subject to a $25 fine.

 Street Obstruction Ordinance: No person shall deposit snow, ice or any other materials on any Class V town-maintained road or push snow or ice across the traveled surface of any Town of Grantham road. Violators will be subject to a $25 fine.