Folks, my father taught me that charity starts at home and in our own back yard. Raising two teenagers on my own has really brought that to heart. With all the demands in our lives, that’s how I prioritize where I put my charitable efforts.

My kids belong to the St. Paul’s Church senior youth group. This group is on a non-denominational pilgrimage to the monastery in Taizé France (www.taize.fr) that draws youth and adults from all over the world. These emerging adults have been planning and raising funds for two years. Out of pocket the families will pay 40 percent of the cost, and the kids have already raised 30 percent.

Several weeks ago I found out they may not make it due to lack of funds. So, I asked my sister, Elizabeth Walter, who is a classical pianist living in San Francisco, to help us out. She will be here in Concord to perform an evening of exceptional classical piano at the AUDI Theatre, 21 Prince St., on Friday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Elizabeth’s performance will include works by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Ginastera. Please join us. Let’s empower these determined youth and, together, put this trip back on the map.

For more information, call 545-5186 or e-mail [email protected].

Steve Thomas

New Hampshire Housing is sponsoring a free, two-part, First-Time Home Buyer’s Seminar on Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Thursday, Jan. 24.

The seminars will take place at the office of New Hampshire Housing, 32 Constitution Drive, Bedford, from 6 to 9 p.m. The seminar is sponsored by St. Mary’s Bank.
The sessions are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To make reservations, please call (800)640-7239, ext. 7393.

New Hampshire Housing seminars provide a comprehensive program in a neutral environment to learn about the home buying process and the responsibilities of home ownership.

Andrew Cadorette

Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Inc., has a special program called New Hampshire Telecommunication Equipment Distribution, which is for people with hearing loss, vision loss or mobility loss to assist with getting a new phone to be able to communicate on the phone. The program will offer telephones at no cost, depending on income, or at a low cost if income guidelines are not met.
Applicants must be residents of New Hampshire in order to be eligible to apply.

If you or someone you know would benefit from this program, please contact Glenys Crane-Emerson by e-mail at [email protected] or call 800-492-0407 voice or 866-634-4764 tty, VP 224-0207 and check out our website at dhhs.org

Glenys Crane-Emerson

Women who want to explore active outdoor interests like ice-fishing or snowshoeing can attend a one-day “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” (BOW) winter workshop on Saturday, Feb. 23 (snow date Feb. 24), at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness. The workshop is offered jointly by N.H. Fish and Game and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation.

Registration for winter BOW runs through Feb. 8. Sign up early, because this popular workshop fills up fast. A registration form and course descriptions are be available at nhbow.com. To request an application by mail, e-mail [email protected] or call 271-3212. The workshop costs $55, which includes a box lunch. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Participants choose a single topic for the day’s activities. Choices include ice fishing; winter outdoor survival skills; basic snowshoeing and tracking; snowmobiling; and Shoe and Shoot, which combines snowshoeing and target shooting.

“Women have a great time at the winter workshop, and they really seem to appreciate having the chance to learn exciting outdoor activities in the company of other women,” said Laura Ryder, program leader for hunter and aquatic education at Fish and Game. “The skills they learn from our expert BOW instructors will allow them to spend enjoyable time outdoors with their families – or on their own – during New Hampshire’s long winters.”

N.H. Fish and Game

The Concord Recreation Department and the Friends of White Park will host the annual White Park Carnival on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 1-4 p.m. at White Park.

The carnival is a safe, affordable and fun event for the whole family! Come celebrate the season with a parade, refreshments, sled races, skate races, a bonfire and a scavenger hunt with prizes. And, of course, lots and lots of skating on the pond. Skates will be available to rent.

Interested volunteers, sponsors or any questions should be directed to David Gill at the Concord Recreation Department, 225-9690. The inclement weather date is Feb. 2.

Rebecca Spencer