19th Annual Pumpkin Festival, 2022 Seacoast Job Fair: Community news update

SFA hosts 19th Annual Pumpkin Festival

SOMERSWORTH — The Somersworth Festival Association announced that they will be hosting its19th Annual Somersworth Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 8. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Somersworth Plaza on Main Street. This is a rain-or-shine event.

There will be pumpkin decorating, scarecrow making, face painting, pumpkin crafts, hayrides, family/child photos, story time, games, yummy food, and much more (while supplies last). Live entertainment will include Bad Breath Microphone from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sole City Dance starting at 1:30 p.m., and Tricky Dick's Magic Show starting at 2 p.m. There will also be some great raffle items.

A $10 bracelet entitles a child to all of the activities. Adults are free when accompanying a child. Come in costume and get entered into a raffle. Food must be purchased separately.

The SFA wants to thank its sponsors, Spence and Mathews Insurance, Kennebunk Savings, DF Richard Energy, Coolidge Law Office, Tri-City Masonry, Profile Bank, and Placework for their support of this community event.

Register to attend the 2022 Seacoast Area Job Fair

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host the 2022 Seacoast Area Job Fair, underwritten by Wentworth Douglass Hospital, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, located at 150 Wakefield St., in Rochester.

Whether seeking a job or career change, the Seacoast Area Job Fair will provide a venue in which to learn about various businesses from multiple industries, and to see what job openings are available in the area. Several educational and state agencies will also be on hand to discuss programs that can benefit both employers and employees.

To register for free as a job-seeking attendee or employer participant and get some free job fair tips, or view the latest list of participating employers and jobs, visit: www.rochesternh.org/jobfair, call: 603-332-5080, or email: events@rochesternh.org.

Kid's Culture to hold Fall Festival benefiting End 68 Hours of Hunger

DOVER — Kid’s Culture, a local childcare and learning center with locations in Dover, Somersworth, and Barrington, is holding a Fall Festival Thursday, Oct. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Kid’s Culture, 8 Eastern Avenue, Barrington, to benefit End 68 Hours of Hunger. This fun-for-all-ages event will feature live music, a food truck, bounce houses, face painting, cotton candy, games, raffles, and more.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to End 68 Hours of Hunger, a public non-profit effort to confront the approximately 68 hours of hunger that some school children experience between the free lunch they receive in school Friday and the free breakfast they receive in school Monday. One in five children in the U.S. struggle with food insecurity.

Rochester Chamber sets ‘A Rock and Roll Christmas” Holiday Parade

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce announced plans for its annual holiday parade with the theme this year of “A Rock & Roll Christmas”. Generously underwritten by Service Credit Union, Rochester’s holiday parade is scheduled to be held on Sunday, Dec. 4, beginning at 3 p.m. The parade will feature an array of floats, high school marching bands, marching units, mobile units and equestrian units.

Those entering floats are encouraged to decorate their entry in keeping with the theme. Floats that are lined up in the assembly area by 1 p.m. will be judged on theme, creativity, craftsmanship, and overall appearance with plaques awarded for “Best of Parade, Second Place, and Third Place. New this year will be a “People’s Choice” award, which will be awarded after the parade; more details will be available at a later date on the Chamber’s website.

The parade route will begin on Wakefield Street by the triangle at the entrance to the Spaulding High School. It will proceed south on Wakefield Street, turn right onto Union Street, turn left onto North Main Street to South Main Street, and disband in front of the Rochester Common.

Thousands of individuals participate in Rochester’s Holiday Parade each year and thousands view the parade as spectators during the parade and via video replay throughout the holiday season. All are welcome to join in the holiday spirit generated by this festive community event. Entries will be accepted through Dec. 1.

For additional information, call the Chamber office at 603-332-5080. Entry forms and guidelines can be found online by visiting: rochesternh.org/parade.

Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity receives $10k donation

BOSTON, Mass. — Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity was presented with a $10,000 donation by the Globalaw Foundation at the GLAMM gala on Sept. 23. The gala was held at the John J. Moakley Court House during the conclusion of the Globalaw Annual Meeting in Boston which was hosted by Hinckley Allen.

Globalaw Foundation Chair, Marco Bolognini, said “We are proud to be supportive with Habitat for Humanity. They do a great job. From the Globalaw Foundation we gladly give our help to those charities that fit our goals for a better, fairer and more sustainable world.”

SENH Habitat’s Executive Director, Marcie Bergan and Board Member, Meg Rotondo attended the event at the invite from fellow Board Member, John Sokul, Jr. Sokul is a partner at Hinckley Allen and a leading real estate attorney in Boston and New Hampshire. John indicated that Hinckley Allen was honored to host the annual meeting for Globalaw, an international network of mid-sized law firms. The 2022 gathering has particular significance as it is the first time a Globalaw annual meeting has been held since the pandemic.

The group attending the annual meeting held a fundraiser and the proceeds were designated to SENH Habitat to help with their current project of building a home for a Veteran family. “What a wonderful opportunity to meet so many wonderful people (attorneys from around the globe) and to be the recipient of such a tremendous gift,” shared Bergan. “We are grateful for the welcome we received and for the generosity of such a distinguished group.”

“Because Habitat, like Globalaw, is a worldwide organization, I felt it a great fit for this event and our fundraising efforts. I am so pleased to be able to be part of such a great, missiondriven organization like Habitat for Humanity.” John went on to say that he would like to thank all of his Globalaw colleagues for their generosity and their commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Seacoast Walk to End Alzheimer’s  raises more than $200k

PORTSMOUTH – More than 800 residents and 160 teams from Portsmouth and surrounding communities participated in this year’s Seacoast Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday, Sept. 25 at The Little Harbour School. Participants raised more than $200,000 towards the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“It is inspiring to see so many community members come together to share in this special event and take steps for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia,” said Jim Wessler, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter. “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s plays a critical role in helping advance research and enhancing care and support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their families.”

On Walk Day, participants honored those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony – a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s – their personal reasons to end the disease.

The Association is keeping up the momentum and continuing to raise critical funds and awareness with the goal of reaching $227,000 by the end of the year. Although Walk Day has passed, individuals are encouraged to still register, walk in their own neighborhoods, and continue to fundraise. Donations are still being accepted through Dec. 31.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 19th Annual Pumpkin Festival, Seacoast Job Fair: Community news update