Dec. 18 update

Effective immediately, the Town of Grantham cannot accept debit cards for payment. The vendor has recalled, and is not replacing, the equipment. The Town Clerk is examining other possible sources.

The Town Clerk/Tax Collector offers a document holder for $1.00. It's an attractive way to keep your important vehicle registrations and insurance cards clean, and easy to retrieve from your glove compartment. Great stocking stuffers.

I will not be posting another Grantham News until January 6. I wish everyone a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2012!

Toys for Tots is in dire need of toys! The most needed items are books, stocking stuffers, and puzzles, but any toy would be greatly appreciated. There are boxes located around Grantham, but if you need a toy to be picked up or have any questions, please call Grantham Firefighter Melissa Hautaniemi at 727-8792.

Grantham Historical Society's appraisal day scheduled for Dec. 17 has been postponed until spring.

Handel's Judas Maccabaeus Sing-Along with Congregation Shir Shalom in Woodstock, Vt. will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. For more information, visit www.hanukkahhandel.com. Donations appreciated at the door.

Gates offers vocals at JOSA

Vocalist Giacomo Gates performs next weekend during Jazz On a Sunday Afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at The Center at Eastman.

Tickets are available for $18 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. Reservations at 763-8732; day of show after 2 p.m. call 863-8000. Sit in musicians welcome and enjoy reduced ticket price. For more information, visit www.josajazz.com. (Next JOSA is Jan. 15 with alto saxophonist Greg Abate.)

A la carte menu and full bar service available from Bistro Nouveau during the show.

Book Fair Dec. 19-21 at GVS 

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the Grantham Village School Monday, Dec. 19 through Wednesday, Dec. 21 in the Multi-Purpose Room. Please join us for some last-minute holiday shopping. It is a great way for families to connect by reading together and sharing a love for books. For more details, visit bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/granthamvillageschool.

Stories and gingerbread

Children are welcome to visit the Story Lady beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 in the Grantham United Methodist Church Hall to hear stories, receive a new book and decorate (and eat!) a delicious gingerbread man. (The church is directly cross from Dunbar Free Library.) Children must be accompanied by an adult.

In addition, have fun looking for our gingerbread man running all over town.

Happy holidays from Our Town and the Dunbar Free Library. Child must be accompanied by an adult. For more information on Grantham Activities, call 863-9143.

* Grantham Village School holiday recess will be Thursday, Dec. 22 through Monday Jan. 2.

* The Grantham Town Offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

* The Transfer Station will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24 and Sunday, Dec. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 1.

* Dunbar Free Library will close at noon Saturday, Dec. 24 and will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.

* The SAU office will be closed Mondays, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

Bistro Nouveau at The Center at Eastman will be open special hours during the week between Christmas and New Year: 12 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Friday, Dec. 30. They’ll also be offering a special menu in addition to the regular menu: pizzas, specialty burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Come enjoy a game by the fire and family time without the cooking!

Pianist John Lovejoy, one of Grantham’s finest musicians, will play in the tavern at Bistro Nouveau from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Dec. 31 to help ring in the new year. There is no cover charge. There will be free favors and champagne toast at midnight.

Bistro will be serving its regular menu as well as a special a la carte menu, including lobster ravioli and lamb osso bucco.

Celebrate New Year 2012 close to home. Reservations at 863-8000.

Next regularly scheduled Grantham School Board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 in the Grantham Village School music room.

Also, mark your calendar for the Grantham School Board public budget hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 1 in the Grantham Village School cafeteria.

The Blue Mountain Snowdusters will hold their regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 in the Lower Level of The Grantham Town Building. Please visit www.snowdusters.org or call Jodie 863-1551 with any questions.

New library hours begin Jan. 4.

Beginning in January, Dunbar Free Library will change its hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. The library will be open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., giving us an extra hour each week to enjoy one of our town’s most wonderful resources.

This change keeps the library open from 5-6:30, which means you can stop on your way home from work, but closes it at 7:30 rather than 8:30.

For more information about the library, visit www.dunbarlibrary.org.

Only two holes left!

Last year the Grantham Parent Teacher Group (GPTG) held an extremely successful Indoor Mini Golf weekend, and they’re doing it again! This year the event will be held Jan. 14-15. There are only two holes available out of 18, so call now if you’d like to participate. You may build it with another family or keep your design "top secret." Set up is Jan. 13 and holes must be picked up late afternoon Jan. 15. Please contact Pattie Beek at 863-8001 or KurtandPattie@comcast.net to claim one of the holes. Pictures of last year’s holes are available so you can get an idea of what others created.

Reminders

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

• 2012 transfer station tags: Bring your old hang tag(s) to the Selectmen’s Office for a 2012 sticker. If you have more than one tag, updating the others will cost $10 each. In January, all hang tags must show the current year in order to access the Transfer Station.

• The Grantham Historical Society is selling 2012 calendars for $5 each at the GHS building, 34 Dunbar Hill Road on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m. and at Rum Brook Market.

• The Grantham Food Pantry at 65 Roses in Rum Brook Plaza is open for food pick up from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.granthamfoodpantry.org or call Caitlin at 603-361-2604. Donations of non-perishable food, toiletry and baby items can be dropped off at the Dunbar Free Library, Grantham Town Hall and Eastman’s South Cove Activity Center. Cash donations go to the Grantham Community Crisis Fund.

• Storytime at Dunbar Free Library begins again Jan. 11 and 12. The programs are held each week at 10 a.m. Wednesdays for children 3 and younger, and 10 a.m. Thursdays for children 4 and older. An adult escort is required.

• Men and women interested in playing basketball can come to Grantham Village School every Sunday (except holidays) for free fun and exercise. Women’s pick-up ball is from 5 to 7 p.m.; men’s, 7 to 9 p.m. The men have a strong group kicking off the season; women interested should contact Susan Martin at 863-9094 to let her know you are attending.

• Zumba Fitness with instructor Angie Shonts is 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Grantham Village School. Wear comfortable clothes and bring clean workout shoes and water. The first two classes are free. For more information, contact Shonts at 704-214-2271 or shonts@comcast.net.

Disclaimer: Sunacom does not verify links or dates for accuracy.