Children’s Museum of N.H. to Celebrate Earth Day

DOVER—
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire invites families to celebrate Earth Day at the museum on Thursday, April 22 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Children can learn to be “Earth Heroes” by finding out simple things they can do to reduce, reuse and recycle. 
 
A variety of hands-on activities are planned throughout the museum with special guests from the local business community: Wentworth Gardens of Rollinsford will have a planting station where children can plant marigolds to take home and grow;
 Red Worms for a Green Earth will educate children about how worms help the earth by speeding the decomposition process: Seacoast Eat Local will have information about how families can support local farmers and enjoy healthy, locally grown foods; UNH’s Kids Can Grow program will have a representative available to share information about programs specifically designed to teach children how to garden; Cabot Creamery will offer samples of four types of cheese made from milk from their cooperative of 1,200 family dairy farms throughout New England and New York; Families can also learn about how the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire was designed and built to be environmentally friendly, achieving the honor of Silver LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. From installing a highly efficient HVAC system and water-saving fixtures to repurposing building materials and using low VOC paints, the Children’s Museum provides an excellent example of sustainable building practices.
 
Regular museum admission applies for all Earth Day festivities: $8 for children and adults, $7 for adults age 65 and over, and there is no charge for museum members or children under 12 months old.
Photo caption: As part of its Earth Day celebration on April 22, the Children’s Museum of N.H. will be highlighting the many ‘green’ design and construction practices that were incorporated into its own LEED-certified building in Dover. (Sean Hennessy photo)

The HUB’s Strengthening Families Class Offered in Somersworth

SOMERSWORTH—
The HUB Family Resource Center is bringing its popular Strengthening Families class to Somersworth, a seven-week program for parents and their children ages 10-14 years of age. The HUB’s Somersworth Youth Connection (SYC) afterschool program will be hosting the class on Thursdays from April 29th to June 10th at the Somersworth Middle School. This class is offered free of charge.
The Strengthening Families class focuses on the 10-14 age range, which is an exciting but sometimes challenging period for children and parents alike. The HUB is offering the class to its SYC participants and any other middle school students from surrounding towns and their parents who are interested in strengthening their family bonds.
During the seven-week program, parents and children will follow separate curriculums and then will be brought together to share their outcomes. Parents and children will learn: coping mechanisms during this rapid growth stage when attitudes and emotional needs are challenging to all members of the family; good decision making in relation to risky behaviors surrounding substance abuse; set age-appropriate parental expectations and learn emotional management skills.
A light meal will be shared with all families at each session, emphasizing the importance of this family time.
The HUB is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing parent education and support services with a mission to enhance parent’s abilities to raise healthy children in caring homes. The HUB serves all families in Strafford County and surrounding towns. Three years ago, the HUB was awarded a five-year 21st Century Community Learning Center grant through the Department of Education to start a much needed afterschool program for the middle school in Somersworth. Under the leadership of the HUB’s Maureen Jackman, SYC has developed into a thriving afterschool and summer program, which enhances the success of more than100 middle school children per year.
HUB parent education manager Lisa Paone has been teaching this class for several years. Each year, she witnesses wonderful moments of parents and their children developing closer relationships. Paone states, “Families walk away with new ways to connect, communicate and thrive, even at a time when major developmental changes in children affect the entire family unit. Parents learn new ways to adjust to the growing changes and challenges their children may be going through with a new perspective. Learning to listen and show that you trust your children when they are making good decisions fosters a positive relationship for years to come.”
For more information about the HUB’s Strengthening Families program, or the HUB, please visit www. hubfamilies.org. To register for Strengthening Families please call Lisa Paone at 749-9755 x10, or Maureen Jackman at SYC at 692-2126 x209. Registration is required and space is limited for this class.

Chambers to Host Governor Lynch

ROCHESTER—
The Greater Dover, Rochester and Somersworth Chambers of Commerce will present a State of the State breakfast forum with New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. This breakfast forum, underwritten by Public Service of New Hampshire, is planned for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at The Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield Street, Rochester. The program will begin with a buffet breakfast, followed by Governor Lynch’s state of the state address and a question and answer period. Governor Lynch is expected to cover such topics as the state’s budget and other issues that affect business.
The cost to attend the breakfast forum is $15 for members of the Greater Dover, Rochester and Somersworth Chambers of Commerce and $25 for non-members. Checks should be made payable to the Tri-Chambers of Commerce.
Advance registration is preferred. Download registration form at www.somersworthchamber.com or call 603-692-7175.
Photo caption: Gov. John Lynch will present a State of the State address in Rochester on April 13. (Courtesy photo)