Open late for shoppers

MILFORD — Beginning Thursday, May 29 through Labor Day, Milford downtown retail businesses will be open until 8 p.m. every Thursday. Participating businesses are located on Nashua Street, South Street and on the Oval.

For more information, telephone the Milford Downtown Ongoing Improvement Team (DO-IT) office at 672-4567 or visit www.milfordoval.net <http://www.milfordoval.net/> .

Summer Lunchtime Concert Series and Market Day Thursdays in July on the Oval

The 11th Annual Summer Lunchtime Concert Series will return to the Milford Oval in July. Local performers will entertain area residents from 12-1 p.m., on Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24 and 31st.

This year's performance schedule includes favorites Amy Conley, Rob Oxford, Rootes and Black Bear Moon.

Amy Conley will kick off the concert series on July 10. She performs a mix of high-energy songs on guitar and banjo for the young at heart. She is the director of Music Together of Milford, a parent/child program for birth to six year olds, and a popular entertainer at birthday parties, dances and festivals around New England. This concert is sponsored by St. Mary's Bank.

Rob Oxford will perform on July 17, playing a family-friendly mix of folk, Americana and country. Rob, a native of Milford, has played at the Summer Lunchtime concerts since the beginning. He was named NH Country Music Association's 2006 Awards Traditional Male Vocalist of the year, Traditional Male Entertainer and Country Male Entertainer of the year. This concert is sponsored by Edward Jones Investment of Milford.

The Black Bear Moon Music Project of New Hampton playing traditional West African djembe and dunun music will play on July 24. The Ensemble's performances feature the tight rhythm work and earthy traditional West African grooves. Having studied with masters in Guinea and Ghana, West Africa, the ensemble skillfully works instruments like the djembe, sangban, dununba, and kenkeni drums, as well as the African flute (also known as the Fula flute), and the aslatua, a percussion instrument from Ghana. This concert is sponsored by Alene Candles and Centrix Bank.

Local favorite Rootes takes the Oval on July 31. Rootes plays a progressive guitar-driven mix of jazz, folk, and rock. Singer-songwriter Rahel sings in a free verse style supported by her middle-eastern influenced guitar work.
Jason's meandering bass groove encompasses blues, rock and traditional folk.

The concerts are produced by the Milford Main Street Program (DO-IT) in conjunction with local area businesses, which generously provide these free events to the community.

Attendees can enjoy the concerts and purchase a lunch to enjoy on Milford's beautiful Oval. Lunches are made available by downtown restaurants and can be purchased for $5 and $1 for a beverage.

New This Year - Market Day Thursdays - This year, Milford downtown businesses will have 'Market Day Thursdays'
every Thursday in July. Downtown merchants will have tables and merchandise outside their doors. While enjoying the Lunchtime Concert, be sure to stroll around the Oval and find out what unique and interesting items that can be found at our local businesses.

Join us on Thursdays for lunch and music. For more information, call the Milford Main Street Program at 672-4567.

Boys & Girls Club news - Fall auction

The Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley will hold its annual fall auction on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Hampshire Hills Sports & Fitness Club in Milford.
This year the theme will be ³Jungle Gym,² in recognition of the club¹s desire to build a gymnasium. All proceeds from the auction go to support children¹s programs at the club and are tax deductible.

The is the leading fundraiser for the club and this year the need is greater than ever. Because of the slowing economy, grants and donations are lagging and more and more children are in need of the resources the club can offer, club officials said in a press release.

The auction committee is now collecting both live and silent auction items.
The committee is Pamela Porter, chairwoman; Judith Bennett, Allise de Smet, Nancy Amato, Alan Woolfson, Steve Desmarais, Mike Dionne, Barbara Stepanek, Jackie Merrill, Helen Leach, Stacey Jordan and Bec Young.

Anyone interested in helping can call 672-1002 or contact any member of the auction committee.

Summer school

The Milford High Summer School Program will be offering 11 courses for credit from July 7-31, including:

Introduction to algebra, algebra I, geometry, algebra II, American studies I (9), American studies II (10), English 9, English 10, English 11, English 12, wellness (P.E. and health).

Students may register through June 27.

Application materials are available on the school¹s website:
http://www.milfordschools.net/mhs/default.htm. Inquiries may be directed to Paul Christensen, director of summer school 673-4523.

Gathering

Simple Presence Peaceful Earth is a free, weekly, community gathering for practicing awareness, calmness, and kindness for one¹s self and the world.
It includes gentle movements, short presentations, discussion, and quiet, mindful sitting.

It will be held Wednesdays, June 18 - Aug. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Church of Milford. Come when you wish. Call 654-2523 or email bruce@tellink.net for details.

Extended day

The Milford Middle School Extended Day Summer Program is holding an informational meeting on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Milford Middle School. The meeting is for parents and students, both those registered for the program and those looking for more information. The Summer Extended Day Program is open to all local students entering grades 5-9 in September. The program runs every school vacation day from 6:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Based at Milford Middle School, the program includes student choice of activities, daily walk to Keyes Field and weekly field trips. This year’s trips include Canobie Lake, ocean, Water Country and an overnight camping trip. Brochures are available at milfordschools.net/middle school/enrichment and by contacting the program at 582-0274 or mmsenrich@charter.net <mailto:mmsenrich@charter.net>

Bingo

The Harley Sanford VFW Post will hold a bingo night at 1 VFW Way on Wednesday, June 18, starting at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5.

Steak

A steak and lobster night will be held on Thursday, June 19, at the Harley Sanford VFW Post at 1 VFW Way starting at 6 p.m. Cost is $18 per person.

For moms

Employmoms, an agency that helps mothers find full time, part-time and contract positions with flexible schedules, will hold an information session on Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Center. For more information, visit the website employmoms.com or contact operations manager Ellen Grudzien at ellengrudzien@employmoms.com.


Summer programs

The Colonel Shepard Montessori School will offer weekly summer programs with outside lessons and activities. Each week will be different, with a focus on nature and science. Students can come one or several of the weeks.
Students will need to bring their own lunches and sunscreen. Classes will be offered on June 9-13, June 16-20, June 23-27, July 7-11 and July 14-18.
Cost per week is $125. Call 672-5875 for more information or to register.

TOPS group

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets on Tuesdays from 9:45­11:30 a.m. at the Community House, 5 Union St., Milford. New members are welcome. Use the ramp at the back entrance.

For more information, contact Barbara at 878-0812 or e-mail mb_hebert@hotmail.com

Bingo

Play bingo every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the VFW on Perkins Street. The building is handicapped accessible.For information, call 673-9817.

Coffee connections

The Milford Recreation Department sponsors Coffee Connections on the second Wednesday of the month, from 10­11:30 a.m. in the Town Hall banquet hall.
Senior citizens are welcome to meet with friends, share some refreshments, and take part in activities. For more information, call 249-0625 or e-mail recreation@milford.nh.gov <mailto:recreation@milford.nh.gov> .


* July 9: Ukulele Sing Along with husband and wife duo Bill and
Jan Sturgeon.

* August 13: Community Service Project. Help the Milford Main
Street Program get ready for Milford Pumpkin Festival.

* September 10: Country Line Dancing

Put on your dancing boots and join licensed dance instructor Alice Vlahos.

* October 8:Cooking Demonstration

Milford¹s The Home Chef, Sarah Vasques prepares a mouth watering homemade lunch. Eat lunch and take home recipes.

Cost $3, Register by Sept. 24, call 249-0625.

* November 12: New Hampshire Audubon

The Nashaway Chapter of NH Audubon brings live birds and information on getting involved locally.

* December 12: Holiday Luncheon at noon.

Holiday Luncheon; sign up required, call Milford Recreation 249-0625.

Scholarships

The Milford Hospital Association, established in 1906, is dedicated to supporting local medical and health related services in the communities of Milford, Amherst and Mont Vernon. College students from those communities preparing for a career in health care can apply for scholarship assistance through the NH Charitable Foundation website at www.nhcf.org. Click on Student Aid and look for the Adult Student Aid application.

Application deadlines are May 15, Aug. 15 and Dec. 15.

Camp Invention

Camp Invention, a weeklong summer day experience for children entering grades 1­6, will be held June 23-27 at Milford Middle School. The program is designed to inspire creativity and inventive thinking through hands-on activities. Children participate in five modules each day, integrating science, mathematics, history and the arts.

Doreen Danhof will direct the program, and local, certified teachers will lead the modules each day. High school and college students serve as counselors.

The registration fee includes snacks and a Camp Invention T-shirt. Register with a friend by May 31 to receive $20 off the base registration price of $205; online registrants receive an additional $5 savings.

For more information or to register, go to www.campinvention.org or call 1-800-968-4332, or contact Doreen Danhof at ddanhof@sau40.com or at the Milford Middle School at 673-5221.

Class of 1988

The MASH Class of 1988 is planning a 20th reunion on Saturday, June 28, at C.R. Sparks in Bedford,

Class members who would like to attend should contact Talia (Boulter) Walley at walleyworks@comcast.net or 770-3119.

Missing mates

The class is looking for ³missing² members. A list of the ³lost and found² classmates is on the reunion website, http://milfordclassof1988.com <http://milfordclassof1988.com/> .


Wedding dresses

An exhibition of Ruth Ann Marcel's collection of antique wedding dresses and other wedding-related memorabilia is on display through June 30 in the Focus Gallery at New Hampshire Antique Co-op. The rotating exhibit, spanning 100 years, will feature wedding fashions, memorabilia, vintage cake toppers, photographs, invitations and wedding apparel for men and children.

This free exhibit is part of New Hampshire Antique Co-op's yearlong celebration of its 25th anniversary of business. It is located 1.5 miles west of the Milford Oval at 323 Elm Street (Route 101A). For information, call 673-8499 or go to www.nhantiquecoop.com

Museum passes

Thanks to a donation to the Wadleigh Library from Dick and Diane Tlapa of Medfield, Mass., through June Milford residents may check out a pass for the New England Aquarium in Boston and pay a reduced admission price of $7 per person. Regular admission to the aquarium is $17.95 for adults; $15.95 for seniors; and $9.95 for children.

Dick and Diane Tlapa have given this gift in memory of their grand-daughter, Jaiden, who wanted to become a veterinarian.

The Wadleigh Library offers other museum passes with free or discounted admission, including Boston¹s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Science Museum. To reserve reserve passes, call 673-2408 or go to www.wadleigh.lib.nh.us and click on ³museum passes.²

Tot Drop In

The Milford Area Mothers Club hosts a Tot Drop In (TDI) every Monday and Thursday from 9­11 a.m. in the Milford Town Hall auditorium. The cost for TDI is $2 per family.

There is an open house on the first Thursday of each month, so visitors can have refreshments and learn more about the club. For information, call Jennifer Hansen at 673-4582.