Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell removes the giblets from a turkey, crawls inside and bakes it in the oven. Once Thanksgiving dinner is in full swing, he bursts out of the turkey and delivers a heartfelt soliloquy of a city memo.
in the spirit of giving
Holiday help lauded
The Human Services Department received 60 bountiful Thanksgiving baskets from Sanel Auto Parts last week, Aspell writes. The baskets included everything from olives to napkins to pies. The employees and owners of Sanel Auto Parts all contributed to this incredible company-wide event, and the city can't thank them enough for their ongoing support. Additionally, Sanel delivered a carton of miscellaneous extras and, with the generosity of a fellow city employee and his family who donated two large turkeys, the department was able to make up two more baskets and serve a total of 62 families. The distribution of the baskets was handled smoothly by volunteers Bob Whatmough, Billy Lynch and Lindsay and Rachel Stevenson. The department could not have handled this without these dedicated volunteers. This is the season to be grateful and the city is grateful to Sanel Auto Parts and all co-worker and volunteers that helped to give 62 families a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Also, in celebration of the holidays last Monday, the final day of golf for the 2011 season, golfers at Beaver Meadow Golf Course donated 311 pounds of food to the city's Human Services Department food pantry. Many thanks to all who participated and to all who have supported the golf course this year.
lighting it up
In Penacook Village
The Penacook Village Association and the Blanchard family are hosting the annual Penacook Christmas tree lighting ceremony Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Boudreau Square monument in downtown Penacook, Aspell writes. The Penacook Elementary School fifth-grade chorus will sing holiday songs and local musicians will perform holiday music. Cookies, hot chocolate and cider will be available. For more information, visit penacook.org.
high honors
Kelley receives award
On Nov. 20, children's author/illustrator Marty Kelley received the Elizabeth Yates award at the Concord Public Library, Aspell writes. The award honors Concord resident and children's author Elizabeth Yates, who was a strong advocate of reading and who supported library programs in the Concord community during her lifetime. Yates received the first award named in her honor in 1994. Kelley is the 16th recipient of the award, which is sponsored by the Concord Public Library Foundation.
The ceremony, attended by many of Kelley's family, friends and fans, included the award presentation, words from Kelley, live music and refreshments.
As this year's winner, Kelley will have the opportunity to help select $500 worth of books to add to the Children's Room collection. His name will be placed on bookplates in each book and will be inscribed on the Elizabeth Yates Award plaque, which hangs in the Children's Room.
