Community Calendar

Join Forester Tim Nolin for an in-depth walking tour to see how we are intentionally creating wildlife habitats as part of our Forest Management Plan. Explore how these practices strengthen meadow ecosystems and boost biodiversity for species that depend on young forest and meadow environments. Geared toward landowners and stewardship enthusiasts, this program explores the science and strategy behind forest resilience, providing an on-the-ground look at how to responsibly manage and protect our shared ecosystem through active, long-term care.

Physical Demand: [4] = Activity includes around 1 mile of walking on trails with uneven terrain and hills.

Ages: Adults (16 & Up)

Join us at the Joppa Hill Educational Farm, 174 Joppa Hill Road, for the Bedford Garden Club's annual Plant Sale. Under the big tent, there will be a variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, and vegetables for sale, all at reasonable prices. Other attractions are garden-product vendors and theme basket raffles. Ask our roaming Master Gardeners for advice about plant choices and growing conditions. This is the club's primary fund-raiser. Proceeds provide support for the club's education programs and the maintenance of its ten community gardens in Bedford for the benefit of both residents and visitors. The 2026 sale will be a family-friendly fun day at the farm!

No Brain Is The Same, a Portsmouth-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is excited to announce a community book sale featuring more than 3,000 titles. The event aims to raise funds for the organization’s mission to foster compassionate communities through neurodiversity education.
The sale offers a vast selection of books across all genres, providing the perfect opportunity for residents to stock up on summer reading while supporting a vital local cause.

Event Details:
• When: Friday, May 15 (1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) and Saturday, May 16 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
• Where: Portsmouth Senior Center, 125 Cottage Street, Portsmouth, NH
• What: 3,000+ books sorted by genre for easy browsing.

No Brain Is The Same works to bridge the gap in understanding between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals. By providing age-appropriate education for children, families, and schools, the nonprofit helps build environments rooted in empathy, compassion, and true inclusion.

“We believe that education is the first step toward a more inclusive world,” says Carla Cole, founder and executive director of No Brain is the Same. “This book sale is a wonderful way for the community to come together, share a love of reading, and help us continue our work in local schools and beyond.”

For more information about the event or the organization’s mission, please visit www.nobrainisthesame.org.

ABOUT NO BRAIN IS THE SAME
No Brain Is The Same is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering empathy and inclusion through neurodiversity education. We provide engaging, age-appropriate assemblies and workshops for schools and communities to help bridge the understanding gap between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals. Learn more at www.nobrainisthesame.org.

Bedrock Gardens will officially reopen for the 2026 season May 12 through May 17, inviting the community to enjoy a full week of guided tours, workshops, and family-friendly activities set among the beauty of the spring landscape.

Opening Week begins on Monday, May 12 with a Members and Press Preview Day, followed by Public Opening Day on Tuesday, May 13, when the gardens welcome visitors for the season.

The celebration continues on Saturday, May 16, with a full day of special programming. Guests can join the daily garden tour at 10:15 AM, after which Jill Nooney, Bedrock’s founder, will be joined by Andy Balon of Bartlett Tree Experts for a unique tree tour of the gardens beginning at 11:00 AM

At 1:00 PM, Executive Director John Forti will give a special walking tour of the gardens. Families are invited to participate in a hands-on Seed Starting Program from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM with Bedrock’s Staff Educator Alison Magill

On Sunday, May 17, two immersive workshops will be offered: Building Fairy Houses at 10:30 AM and Forest Bathing at 1:00 PM. (Pre-registraion required; please visit our website to sign up)
The student art exhibition “Butterfly Effect,” featuring work by middle and high school students from Newmarket, Oyster River, and Rochester, will be on view from May 12 through May 22. Visitors can also explore the landscape through a self-guided Garden Art Tour, including a free audio walking experience and print catalog.

Throughout the week, visitors can enjoy a variety of all-day experiences, including honey tastings from Bedrock’s own bees with Mary Ellen McKeen, President of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association. The Garden Shop will feature a curated selection of plants and garden-inspired goods.

Run or walk in support of Mental Health Awareness!

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, we invite you to join us at Greeley Park in Nashua, NH for a 5K/1K Run/Walk that puts mental health at the center of our community. Thrive Stride brings together runners, walkers, families, and advocates who believe that mental health care should be accessible, compassionate, and stigma-free.

At Greater Nashua Mental Health, we walk alongside children, adults, and families navigating mental illness and substance use challenges, often during the most difficult moments of their lives. When you register for Thrive Stride, you help fund critical services, create pathways to care, and send a powerful message: mental health matters, and help should never feel out of reach for anyone.

This event is for everyone. Move at your own pace. Walk with purpose. Run with intention. Start a team fundraiser. Celebrate resilience, honor loved ones and stand with those who may not yet have the strength to stand alone.

Your stride creates impact.
Your presence creates hope.
Your participation helps our community and our programs thrive.

Who will you show up for on race day?

*Limited T-shirts available, deadline to secure yours ends April 30th*

Get ready for a piercing experience that’s as safe as it is stylish. Rowan, the trusted studio known for its professional piercings performed by nurses, opens at The Mall at Rockingham Park on May 16th. Whether it’s your first piercing or you’re adding to your ear stack, Rowan is your go-to for expert care, hypoallergenic jewelry, and self-expression you can trust. Please join us for our opening day, our first 50 customers will receive our signature branded giveaways! Plus a portion of our proceeds will be donated to our partner NextGen Face. Book your appointment today.

WHO: Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation
WHAT: Family STEM Day, free and open to the public and your participation is free, too!
WHERE: Nashua High School South, 36 Riverside Street, Nashua, N.H. – Plenty of parking!
WHEN: Sat., May 16, 2026 from 10am – 2pm
WHY: To celebrate our STEM education mission and the STEM community! 

ABOUT our event:
Last year at our inaugural Family STEM Day event, we had well over 1,000 visitors with more than 40 hands-on activities and interactive presentations with 23 organizations. We are going to do this again! So far we have more than 30 exhibitors! We’d love you to be a part of this year’s fun!  

Our 2nd Family STEM Day is coming up very soon! This event will celebrate and highlight our organization and its mission of promoting STEM initiatives happening in our community.  Open to families, students, and community members of all ages, Family STEM Day is an opportunity for organizations to highlight their mission and work, engage with families, and inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators. We will have lots of hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations and lots of big and small ways STEM is part of our lives.  

We will be showcasing programs that have benefited from foundation support, including: the Adult Learning Center’s Xploration Program, the United Way of Greater Nashua’s Wee Read initiative in addition to many others. Gloria McCarthy, co-founder of BSMM, said, “We are thrilled beyond words by the number of organizations willing to contribute their time and energy in support of the Brian S McCarthy Foundation’s Family STEM Day. This event is not only a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math—it is a deeply personal way for us to honor and share Brian’s many passions with the community that he served for so many years.” 

Our Schedule so far: 
10:00 a.m. 
Family STEM Day Begins! 
Planetarium Open House
Hazy Ice Cream food truck service begins
Photo Booth open until 2 p.m.

10:30 a.m. 
Welcome and acknowledgements (Demonstration Area) – STEM Champion and scholarship winners to be announced 
Followed by Tesla Coil Demonstration
Planetarium Show

11:00 a.m. 
Augusta’s Chicken on the Road food truck service begins until 1 p.m.
FIRST Robotics demonstrations 11-1
Planetarium Show

11:30 a.m. 
Tesla Coil Demonstration
Planetarium Show

12:00 p.m.
Planetarium Show

12:30 p.m.
Tesla Coil Demonstration
Planetarium Show

12:45p.m.
Harvey Construction Robotics demonstration
1:00 p.m.
Planetarium Show

1:30 p.m.
Passport Winner Drawing and Closing Remarks
Tesla Coil Demonstration
Planetarium Open House

Our sponsors:
Harvey Construction, Rockland Trust Foundation, Paisner Dental Associates, Prunier & Prolman, P.A., and World Academy

ABOUT The Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation:The Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation was established in March 2019 in memory of the late Nashua Alderman-at-Large, in recognition of his devotion to Nashua’s education, and his affinity for the sciences and mathematics. Our mission is to promote education in STEM and to provide opportunities to Nashua high school students seeking to further their education in a STEM-based program.

Since our founding, we have funded over $104,341 in scholarships, grants, and donations, impacted 1,760 students, awarded 26 scholarships, supported 38 projects, served 21 Nashua, N.H. schools and organizations. 

For more information:
Email: Events@BSMMemorial.com
Website: https://www.bsmmemorial.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianSMcCarthyMemorialFoundation 

Awe-inspiring winter experience. Explore ice caverns and passageways, wander beneath icy archways, fun on ice slides, and frozen thrones. Horse Drawn Sleigh rides, Polar Pub, forest Light-Walk, and more.

Join us for a heartwarming day of celebration as we welcome baby wildlife into our Wildlife Medical Clinic and celebrate the birthdays of our beloved ambassador animals!

Enjoy a day filled with hands-on learning, family-friendly activities, and clinic insight into how we care for young wildlife. Whether you're meeting our ambassadors, exploring interactive stations, or watching feeding demonstrations, there’s something for everyone to experience and enjoy.

Throughout the day, you can look forward to:

-Ambassador Meet & Greets
-Nature-based crafts & activities
-Wildlife Intake Simulations & Scenarios (perfect for kids and all ages!)
-Baby animal feeding demonstrations
-Raffle baskets
-And more!

To join in the celebration, we invite you to bring a “gift” for our patients and ambassadors. Consider selecting an item from our Clinic Wishlist or Standard List found on our website. Each item you bring will earn you a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of our themed baskets. Your support helps us provide critical care during this busy baby season!

Come celebrate, learn, and connect with wildlife during this special time of year, we can’t wait to see you there!

Local New Hampshire author Jeremy Smith will appear for an author signing at Barnes & Noble in Keene on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Smith will be featuring three books: Blood Money, Anela and Curiosity, and Jojo and Uncle Jeremy’s Midnight Mega Race. The event highlights Smith’s work across multiple genres, from gritty fiction to children’s books.