Quality quilting
KINGSTON, N.H. — Gone are the days when quilts were a utilitarian item that kept 19th century pioneers warm as they traveled across the country. Now quilts are considered works of art. Many are exhibited with the expectation of winning prizes, blue ribbons, and recognition.
One local quilter, Jean Ricker of Kingston, N.H., a member of the Merrimack Valley Quilters for 14 years, has gained recognition for her handiwork. In 2005, she won a Blue Ribbon at the Deerfield Fair for her Bargello Quilt. In 2006, she won second place at the Guilds Quilt show. In 2007, she won a blue ribbon again at the Deerfield Fair, and this year she submitted two quilts to the prestigious Lowell quilt show "Images." One is a queen-size bed quilt named "Butterflies and Rainbows," and the other is a quilt named "Rag Time Santa."
You can meet Jean and other talented quilters of the Merrimack Valley Quilters on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Holy Angels Church School Hall in Plaistow, N.H. For more information, call at 603-382-6823.
Share your thoughts on heating costs
HAVERHILL — Are you worried about what the price of home heating fuel will be this coming winter? If so, then state officials want to hear from you. The Winter Energy Costs Task Force, a panel of state officials and legislators appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi will hold a series of public hearings around the state over the next few weeks.
One of those hearings will be in Haverhill on Monday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the public library, 99 Main St.
The task force, which is charged with developing recommendations to help residents cope with the high cost of energy expected this winter, is seeking testimony from individuals, community organizations, local officials, charities, gas and electric distribution utilities, fuel distributors, insulation and weatherization contractors and others who can shed light on winter energy issues and suggest solutions and strategies to address them.
You may also submit written testimony at the hearing or submit testimony electronically to winterenergy@state.ma.us through Sept. 10.
New traffic pattern at Timberlane
PLAISTOW, N.H. — Parents planning to drive their students to Timberlane this week will have a new traffic pattern to abide by.
Parents should enter the parking lot using the middle entrance, on the high school side of the Performing Arts Center. Cars will drive toward that building, then split depending on which school students are being dropped off at. Drivers should then drop off students in front of the school and follow the flow of traffic to the nearest exit.
School officials changed the traffic pattern to try to make drop-off safer. There will be people out to direct traffic during the first week until parents get used to the new flow.
Ready to join the war on terror
HAVERHILL — Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Messick, whose wife, Samantha, is the daughter of Janice and Toby Keyser of Haverhill, recently completed the pre-deployment exercise Mojave Viper at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Messick is assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Albany, N.Y. His unit is composed of approximately 1,100 reserve and active-duty Marines and sailors who are scheduled to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mojave Viper is a 30-day training exercise that helps service members hone skills in both combined arms and counter-insurgency operations. The primary mission of Messick's unit, when deployed to Iraq, will be base security and other civil affairs operations. This will be 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines' third deployment since 2002.
Library offers young authors program
PLAISTOW, N.H. — A new program for first- and second-graders with writing aspirations begins at the library this week. The young authors program will help each child write his or her own book, with the help of an accompanying parent or caregiver.
The six-week program will also teach children a bit about illustrating so they can draw their own pictures for the book. Librarians will go over the parts of a story with children and help them do research. At the end of the program, books will be bound and there will be an authors tea.
Young authors will run on Thursday nights from 6 to 7:15 p.m. To sign up, visit the library's Web site at www.plaistowlibrary.com.
Learn to knit in Haverhill
HAVERHILL — Handmade apparel is all the rage on runways and boutiques. Now you can design and make your own accessories and clothing with help from a veteran instructor.
Plum Island Knitters will hold small classes in Haverhill and Newburyport. Private or group lessons also can be arranged at your home or workplace. All levels, from beginner to expert, are welcome.
Classes will be at All Saints Church and will meet Wednesdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m., starting Sept. 10. Newburyport classes on Plum Island will meet on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m., beginning Sept. 15. The cost of a four-week session is $75; 12-week consecutive sessions are $185. The drop-in rate is $20 per class. Class size is limited to eight students. Preregistration is required.
For more information, call 978-255-1130 or visit www.piknitters.com. Plum Island Knitters supports the Katydid Foundation Inc., a Merrimack Valley nonprofit organization that helps adults with autism.
Poetic photos on display at library
HAMPSTEAD, N.H. — The library's meeting room walls will hold an exhibit of garden photographs taken by Hampstead's Delight Reese beginning Sept. 5 and remaining until the end of October.
Reese creates poetry to go with the photographs of her gardening efforts celebrating nature's bounty. She refers to her photographic exhibits as "Poetography Exhibits," reflecting the union of verbal and visual poetry in her photographs.
