Epping’s 2010 Summer Reading Program, “Splash Into Summer!” begins June 28th. Reading logs are available in the children’s room for eager readers to begin keeping track of the time they spend reading (or the time someone reads to them). Every 30 minutes of reading will yield one dollar in “Splash Cash” to spend at the SRP Store and a ticket to participate in “Make a Special Splash”, the elementary level program created and run by Epping Elementary School Librarian Barbara Young and her assistant Maryanne Nicosia. This core piece of the summer program will run for 6 weeks, Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 to 2:00 and Wednesday evenings from 5:00 to 8:00. Children will have the opportunity to make projects and earn more “Splash Cash” by answering questions and trying challenges in the 5 topics that EES students know as “specials”. At the end of the 6 weeks, each child will have created a Special Splash Scrapbook full of mementos from summer reading.

In addition, readers of all ages will be able to earn clues to the “Splash around Epping” scavenger hunt, a letterboxing game designed to introduce folks to many of the little wonders here in Epping. During the 6 weeks of the core program Miss Tracie’s Preschool Storyhour will switch to its “SRP hours”. From June 30th until August 5th Storyhour will be meeting at 9:15 on Wednesdays and 9:15 and 2:30 on Thursdays.

Thursday, June 24th at 7:45pm: Cinema 151 (formerly Dessert and a Movie for Adults) will feature Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in the highly acclaimed film about Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s 1995 rugby team (rated PG-13). If the lack of comfortable seating has kept you away from movie night in the past now is the time to give it another try. In recent months the library has been able to purchase nicely padded folding chairs thanks to the Friends of the Library.

The library is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 to 2:00. For more information about any library programs please call 679-5944.

For Adults:  Cinema 151 (formerly Dessert and a Movie) shows a newly released DVD on the big screen with stereo surround sound on the fourth Thursday each month.  This month’s film was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as the captain of South Africa’s championship rugby team. Nominated for 2 Oscars and rated PG-13, this movie will begin at 8:00 on Thursday, June 24th.

The sixth annual Toy Sale to benefit Epping’s summer reading program is coming up!  On Saturday, June 26th from 9:00 to 1:00 come to the library for great deals on gently used toys, games, sports equipment and baby and toddler items.  The Friends of the Library will continue to take donations for this sale until June 19th.  Off site storage has been donated by the Clark family in Epping, and allows for even large outdoor play pieces to be held until sale day. There is still time to contribute those outgrown toys and support Epping’s library. No stuffed animals or clothing, please.

The Summer Reading Program will begin on June 28th and will run Monday through Thursday from 10 to 2 until the first week in August.

For more information about any library programs please call 679-5944.

EPPING, NH- It all starts with a march-like bass beat.   The light comes up on the two aisles leading onto the new beautiful Leddy Center stage, and we get our first glimpse of the workhouse population that inhabits Dickens’ London in the 1850’s.   From these impoverished urchins comes a desire, a need—perhaps a prayer.   “Is it worf va wai’in foah?   If we live til eigh’y-fouah, all we ever get is gruel!   Every day we say a prayah.   Will vey change va bill of faiah?   Still we get va same ole gruel!”   Yes, every orphan at this workhouse, from six year old Ryan right on up to 11 year old Hannah, boasts a glorious accent that assures you that you are, indeed, in a London that punished the less fortunate.

The hope and, yes, the fear of change is personified in the orphan Oliver Twist (Spencer Gregory of Fremont), who dares to ask for more gruel to fill his empty belly and therefore, perhaps, feed his hungry soul.   That he should dare to ask such a thing confounds, confuses, and angers his keepers, Mr. Bumble (Ed Knox of  Strafford ) and Widow Corney (Mary Case of  Center Barnstead ), who respond by selling Oliver to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry ( Damian Raymond of Epping), and his wife, Mrs. Sowerberry (Lauren Campbell of Raymond), who will use Oliver in their children funerals.   Oliver, made bold by his own daring, runs away from the Sowerberry’s house, and is confronted by the Artful Dodger (Braden McKallagat of Atkinson), who is on the lookout not only for pockets to pick, but for orphans just like Oliver to add to Fagin’s Gang of thieves and pickpockets.   Oliver is grateful to have a place to sleep and something to eat, and so is naively happy to learn the art of picking pockets for Fagin (Steve Koch of Danvers, MA).   It is at Fagin’s den that he meets the incomparable Nancy (Jennifer Cardin of Nottingham), who is Bill Sykes’ (Don LaDuke of Litchfield)doxy, who it seems has sold her body, if not her soul, to Fagin and his cause.   Nancy is surprisingly taken with Oliver, perhaps because of his innocence, and feels a strong urge to protect him from the life she has led, a commitment which eventually leads to her demise.

Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” is directed by Elaine Gatchell, with music direction by J. Bruce Gatchell, and is sponsored by Ben Franklin Store/ACE Hardware of Raymond, NH and Hurlbert Toyota of Epping, NH., and is partially sponsored by Seacoast Coca-Cola Company of Seabrook, NH and THE SHARK at 102.1 and 105.3 FM.   “Oliver!”   runs July 9 through July 25, with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sunday and Wednesday afternoons at 2:00pm.   Tickets are $18. and $16., depending upon seating.   Group rates available. For tickets, call the Leddy Box Office at 603-679-2781, Monday through Friday, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, or go on line at www.leddycenter.org .   Leddy Center is a 501c3 non-profit NH arts and education organization located on Ladd’s Lane, off Route 27, in Epping, NH, and is air conditioned for your comfort.

Princesses and other royalty are invited to the annual Spring Tea Party on Saturday, May 22nd.  Beginning at 11:00, members of the young nobility will find dress up play, sparkly crafts and a unicorn game in addition to snacks and ‘tea’ served on real china. Elegant attire is welcome but not necessary. The final seating for Tea will be at 12:30.  The Spring Tea is part of the monthly Toy Play Day series which encourages children to feel comfortable at their library.

For Adults:  Cinema 151 (formerly Dessert and a Movie) shows a newly released DVD on the big screen with stereo surround sound on the fourth Thursday each month.  This month’s film features Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in a comedy about post divorce complications.  The movie (rated R) begins at 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 27th.

The library will be open for bathroom use only on Monday, May 31st during the Memorial Day Parade.  The Friends of the Library also will be sponsoring plant and book sale tables to support those little extras that mean so much to the library and its patrons. The library will be closed for the rest of Memorial Day.  A reminder that wireless internet can be accessed from the parking lot behind the library even when the building is closed.

Still doing spring cleaning?  Please remember that we are still collecting gently used toys for our Toy Sale in June.  This is the only fundraiser we do for the town’s summer reading program, so mark your calendars for Saturday, June 26th from 9:00 to 1:00. Generous donors fill the tables with wonderful bargains and equally generous shoppers take advantage of the great deals!  Everyone comes up a winner.

For more information about any library programs please call 679-5944.

EPPING: Mary Gatchell and her band from NYC, now includes the well-known and highly respected Grammy award winning drummer, Rodney Holmes. Holmes joined the Santana Band for the Santana-Bob Dylan Tour, followed by offers in the jazz area to record and tour with the legendary Brecker Brothers. Holmes toured extensively with the Brecker Brothers for two years, and also went on to perform/recorded with Steps Ahead, the incredible Wayne Shorter, Larry and Julian Coryell, Victor Bailey, Leni Stern, and New York guitarist, David Gilmore.

Rodney has performed with Special EFX, the Zawinul Syndicate with keyboardist Joe Zawinul.

Rodney also played on the mega hit single “Smooth” with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. His current project is “Twelve Months of October” performing on their Grammy winning album, “Out Of The Loop” and on their Grammy winning song “African Skies” making Rodney a multi-Grammy winner. Rodney just returned from an All-Star Tour of Europe and Asia.

Mary Gatchell brings her singer/songwriter/pianist talents to Leddy Center once more, as she presents her smooth and exciting style of performing timeless jazz standards and her own rock and pop creations. Mary and her incredible band are among some of the most premiere musicians on the East Coast and together will perform a magical evening, May 21, for the Leddy Center audience. Mary has her degree in Jazz Theory and Composition from NYU and has sung with Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Tito Puente, Al Grey, and Gerry Bergonzi. She has been featured in the Lew Anderson Big Band, and has performed at Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, CBGB’s, the Cutting Room, the Knitting Factory, and at the world famous jazz club, Birdland. Mary is Artistic Director and co-founder of Siena Summer Music, a summer classical and jazz music festival held each year in Italy. Visit Mary’s festival at www.sienasummermusic.org.

Craig_Magnano is with Mary on guitar. With degrees from Purchase and Manhattan School of Music, Craig currently plays for Jersey Boys, Next to Normal, and Wicked on Broadway. He also played for The Lion King, Hairspray, and Spring Awakening.

Mary brings Canadian Steve Lucas, international recording and touring musician/bassist to Leddy Center. Steve’s unique bass style has been featured in the New York Times and Bass Frontiers magazine. His latest CD combines jazz with the modern styles of drum’n bass, trip hop and jungle. He has played with celtic platinum recording artist, Loreena McKinnitt.

Mary Gatchell in Concert is sponsored by Colonial Poplin Nursing Home and Poplin Way Assisted Living, Fremont, and partially sponsored by Bell & Flynn, Inc., Paul and Elisabeth Gustavson, Maple Suites Retirement Community, Dover, NAPA of Epping, Proulx Oil and Propane, Inc., RoseLynn Ice Cream, Epping, Telly’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, Epping, and is underwritten by Seacoast Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and THE SHARK 102.1-105.3FM

Tickets for Mary Gatchell in Concert, Friday, May 21, are $18. for adults and $13. for full time students. Leddy Center box office on Ladd’s Lane in Epping, is open Monday through Friday from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Visit or call Leddy Center at 603-679-2781 for ticket information or order tickets on line at www.leddycenter.org. Leddy Center is located on Ladd’s Lane, just off Rt. 27, in Epping. Leddy Center is a non-profit NH Arts and Education Organization.

The Epping Recreation Department announces the First Annual Touch-A-Truck Event on Sunday, May 2nd, from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Epping Middle School. This will be a fun family event where kids can rub elbows with all kinds of different cars and trucks.

Music will be provided by award-winning children’s musician Steve Blunt! Kids can also participate in face-painting and a coloring contest.

The fee is $5 for one child/$10 for two or more children. (Parents and kids under 2 are free.)

Proceeds will go towards improving the outdoor basketball court.

What is a Touch-A-Truck event?

A “Touch a Truck” fundraising event is a community wide event where kids (and adults) have the opportunity to see, touch, interact with and learn about dozens of cool vehicles. From fire trucks to motorcycles, cement trucks to police cars, UPS trucks to garbage trucks.

How often does anyone get to look inside any of these unusual vehicles and get to talk to someone who operates them? And kids of all ages love these loud and unique vehicles.

Parent supervision is required, and cameras are highly recommended

The new Market Basket store in Epping, in the new new Brickyard Square shopping center on Route 125 behind Burger King, is set to open on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010. This was confirmed in a phone call to Market Basket’s headquarters in Tewksbury, MA.

The store will be the 63rd Market Basket store, and at 77,000 square feet, the largest in New Hampshire. The supermarket will give competition to the Super Wal-Mart located across 125 and 101 from the new store. Wal-Mart had been the only supermarket in town since it opened. Previously residents needed to go to Raymond, Lee or Stratham for groceries, but will soon have the choice of two supermarkets right here in town.

The store signage has been up for a couple of weeks now, and the entrance sign for Brickyard Square has also been erected.

Epping Market Basket was originally scheduled to open around Thanksgiving of 2009, but the economic downturn and other setbacks have delayed the opening until April.

EPPING-Leddy Center for the Performing Arts begins its Summer in the Arts with two summer voice camps with Mary Gatchell.  Mary comes back from NYC to teach two exciting camps in voice and joins mother, Elaine, to teach one amazing two week musical theater camp.

Mary’s summer voice camps are two hour sessions for one week, June 21-25, with a final performance featuring each student in various choral production numbers.  Children will learn voice techniques, harmony, choreography, and composition in these fun summer camps.  Camp fee $125.00, with a registration fee $10.  Summer Camp Sing Out 1 is for ages 7-10 and meets from 10:00am to 12:00pm and summer Camp Sing Out 2 is for ages 11-14, and meets from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, June 21-25.

Elaine and Mary’s two week Summer Musical Theater Camp, is from June 28-July 10, for kids 8 to 15. Children will learn three major production numbers from a popular musical.  All students will also perform in a dramatic play and a choreographed song of their own composition in their final camp performance.  The student’s tuition includes a ticket to Leddy’s mainstage performance of “Oliver!”, running July 9 through July 25.  Camp fee is $275.00 with a $10. registration fee..

Leddy Center’s year ‘round mini-musical theater teacher, Jen Cardin, presents a mini-musical summer camp for ages 5-7, July 21- 25, from 10:00am to 12:00pm.  This is a fun camp for the little ones, full of music and make-believe!   Camp fee is $125.00 with a $10. registration fee.

Register on line or call Leddy Center office, at 679-2781, Monday through Friday, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, to register for these great summer camps.  All camps are being held at Leddy Center’s new beautiful theater location at Verdant Pastures on Ladd’s Lane in Epping, NH.

Leddy Center is a 501c3 non-profit NH Arts and Education Organization.

“Most people need to eat more servings of vegetables each day,” explains Peggy Connors, a registered and licensed dietitian who is a board member of the NHDA.  “If children are introduced to vegetables in a fun way through a variety of experiences they’re more likely to eat them when presented by parents or caregivers.  This can develop in to positive eating habits that can benefit their health for the rest of their lives.”

Storyhour is a drop-in program that happens three times each week at the library in Epping: Wednesdays at 10:30, and Thursdays at 10:30 and 1:30.  Registration is not necessary, and younger siblings are always welcome.

On Saturday, March 27th there will be more food at the Epping Library, when cuddly bears of all shapes and sizes are invited pack a basket for the annual Teddy Bear Picnic, a part of the ongoing Toy Play Day series.  Beginning at 11:00 bears and their human friends will get to play games and create special crafts until lunchtime, when families will gather for a big picnic on the floor while Miss Tracie reads some of her favorite classic Teddy Bear stories.  Toy Play Day goes from 11:00 to 1:00 on the 4th Saturday each month and encourages young children to feel comfortable at their public library.

For more information about any library programs please call 679-5944.

Photo from 2006

On the heels of the wind storm just a few weeks ago, this past weekend and Monday saw nearly eight inches of rainfall hit town, flooding the Lamprey river, and closing roads.

The bridges on Main street and Mill Street were both closed this morning, as water rushed over them. Sections of Blake Road and Prescott Road were closed as well as they were washed out by the rain.

It’s not quite as bad as May of 2006, (right) but pretty bad nonetheless.

The Union Leader is providing Pour’easter updates