GREENLAND — The Great Bay Stewards, a local non-profit dedicated to protecting and conserving Great Bay, announced that registration is now underway for the annual Great Bay 5K|Race for a Healthy Estuary, to be held Oct. 29. Now in its 24th year, the Great Bay 5K is a major fundraiser for the Great Bay Stewards, having brought in more than $300,000 since its launch.
The Great Bay 5K includes a team competition and the chance for teams to vie for the New England Oyster Cup, won in 2021 by the Runner’s Alley team. Groups of 10 or more receive customized race shirts and team photos taken before the race. They can also compete for fastest female team and fastest male team, with a pizza party for the winning teams. “We’ve had a lot of fun with the different teams over the last few years,” says Nancy Eckerson, director of the team competition. “We get everything from the New England 65-Plus Runners Club to local elementary school groups to highly competitive racing teams to competing neighborhoods. I’m excited for even more new teams to join the event in 2022.”
This year will also represent the third year of the accompanying Great Bay 55K Challenge. The 55 kilometers represent a suggested route that circumnavigates the entire estuary, traveling from the Discovery Center in Greenland, through Newmarket, Newfields, Durham, Portsmouth, Newington, and returning to the waterfront at the Center. People can choose to complete the entire 55K any way they prefer – including on a treadmill - and log their miles along the way. A virtual Great Bay 5K option will also again be available. Participants have between Oct. 1 to 29 to compete the virtual 55K and/or 5K.
The Great Bay 5K is a fast, mostly downhill race that takes place along the shores of Great Bay in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. The course begins at Stratham Hill Park in Stratham, N.H., and ends at the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, N.H. Runners and walkers often come dressed in their Halloween costume and the race is home to many participants’ personal record. The Great Bay 5K is the last race in the popular Seacoast Series, with each race in the series benefiting an area nonprofit. Registration for both the 5K and 55K races is open online through Oct. 27. Participants in the 5K will receive a long-sleeve, high-tech race shirt race t-shirt if they register by Oct. 3, while those who sign up for the 55K Challenge will receive a commemorative hat.
For the third year, complimentary beer, cider and oysters will be available for participants who visit supporting breweries and restaurants the weekend of the race. Participating this year are Deciduous Brewing Company, Liars Bench Beer Company, North County Hard Cider, Sawbelly Brewing, Stoneface Brewing Co., Tributary Brewing Company, and The Franklin. Numerous race prizes are available, including for five-year age groups, age-graded winners, best costume, the first male and female contestant to finish the 55K course, and more. Registration costs range from $15 to $40, including special youth and senior rates.
The Great Bay 5K is the largest fundraiser for the Stewards, a local non-profit that has been dedicated to protecting and conserving Great Bay for more than 25 years. Funds raised through the events will go toward improving and updating exhibits in the Discovery Center, bring students from socioeconomically challenged schools on fieldtrips, research into threatened as well as invasive species around the estuary, and more. To learn more about supporting the Stewards and our work, please visit us at www.greatbaystewards.org.
PORTSMOUTH In December 2019, the Portsmouth City Council approved the recommendations of the Trustees of the Trust Funds to consolidate several underfunded accounts into five, newly-created Portsmouth Community Scholarship Funds that combined accounts with fund balances too small to generate enough investment interest to make annual awards.s.
The Trustees of the Trust Funds have established five community scholarship funds in support of the following areas of scholastic accomplishment and educational and vocational aspirations: Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Arts; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Athletics; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Higher Education, Generally; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Technology/Trades; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math.
These scholarships are open to all students who are Portsmouth residents, not just to students at Portsmouth High School. The Trustees of the Trusts Funds has established a secure portal on the City of Portsmouth website that allows individuals and businesses to donate conveniently to the community scholarship funds.
To make a donation to any of the Portsmouth Community Scholarship Funds through the secure donation portal on the City website, click on the “Make a Donation” button in the middle of the CityofPortsmouth.com homepage, or go directly to https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/city/trustees-trust-funds-scholarships and select the scholarship fund you wish to support. Donations may be made on the site by electronic check (no fee) or by credit card (the 2.9% fee goes to the service provider and is not retained by the City). Check donations may also be mailed to Portsmouth Community Scholarships c/o Trustees of the Trust Funds, City Hall, One Junkins Ave., Portsmouth NH 03801. Donors receive a letter confirming tax deductibility for the amount of their donations, to the extent of the law.
DOVER — Dover400 is currently underway with two fundraising campaigns, “$400 for 400,” an effort to solicit 400 donors at $400 to celebrate Dover’s 400th Anniversary; and also “The 1623 Society” with membership available for a donation of $1623. All proceeds will support the activities planned throughout 2023. Donations may be sent to Dover400, 24 Chestnut St., Dover, NH 03820. For more information, please visit www.Dover400.org.
DOVER – The 39th annual Red’s Race for a Better Community will take place on Saturday, April 16, in Downtown Dover. The event is open to anyone who wants to run or walk to raise money for three local non-profits who provide important services in Strafford County. These non-profits are Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, Seymour Osman Community Center, and Woodman Park Parent Teacher Organization. The race is five miles for runners and 2.4 miles for walkers. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on April 16, and the race will begin at 10 a.m.
Online registration will remain open until April 13. There will be in-person registration opportunities the day of the race, as well.
Bib pick up will be held the day before the event at Red's Shoe Barn, in addition to day of. All runners will receive a 10% discount for the week following the event at Reds Shoe Barn when they bring their bib in to shop.
Please follow our social media for important information and updates about the Red’s Race for a Better Community. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Reds-Race-for-a-Better-Community-112033261374407 and Instagram: @redsrace.
NORWELL, Mass — Sullivan Tire values making a difference in the communities that they serve. From now until May 1, they are holding a Sock Drive to help those experiencing homelessness remain warm and healthy. Socks are one of the most requested items from individuals and families experiencing homelessness, yet they are the least donated for those in need.
Sock Boxes are located at over 100 Sullivan Tire auto service, commercial truck centers, and wholesale locations throughout the New England region to gather donations from anyone who is looking to participate. They ask that donated socks be new, but can be any color, style or size from infants to adults.
The goal is to collect 300,000 pairs of socks across all locations from every division and donate them to homeless shelters that serve the local communities where Sullivan Tire stores are located.
ROCHESTER – Brighten up your day with a bouquet of flowers that gives back in the local community. Granite State Choral Society has been selected by local Hannaford store leadership as the benefiting non-profit in the brand-new Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good Program for the month of April. GSCS will receive a $1 donation for every Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker purchased at the Hannaford locations in Rochester in April.
The Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good Program is an easy way for shoppers to give back as part of the regular shopping routine. Every Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold supports a non-profit local to the Hannaford in which it was purchased. For more information about the Hannaford Bloomin' 4 Good Program, please visit hannaford.bloomin4good.com.