Merle Schotanus, left, and Bob Schultz, both members of the Harvest Hill Resident Association, honored Harvest Hill nursing staff including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed nursing assistants during a ceremony at the senior living community in Lebanon on Tuesday in honor of National Nurse’s Week. The proclamation conveyed, "our residents deep respect and gratitude for their professional service to our Harvest Hill community,“ according to the association. (Photograph courtesy of Alice Peck Day Lifecare)
Merle Schotanus, left, and Bob Schultz, both members of the Harvest Hill Resident Association, honored Harvest Hill nursing staff including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed nursing assistants during a ceremony at the senior living community in Lebanon on Tuesday in honor of National Nurse’s Week. The proclamation conveyed, "our residents deep respect and gratitude for their professional service to our Harvest Hill community,“ according to the association. (Photograph courtesy of Alice Peck Day Lifecare) Credit: Photograph courtesy of Alice Peck Day Lifecare

Life in the Upper Valley might not be like it was this time last year, but events and community news have continued, albeit a little differently than what we’re accustomed to.

Here are some highlights:

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Learn about volunteer opportunities at Willing Hands during a virtual presentation from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday. The Norwich-based nonprofit organization helps grow, glean and gather food that is distributed among food pantries throughout the Upper Valley.

The event is being hosted by Little Rivers Health Care and The Space On Main. Advanced registration is required and the Zoom registration link can be found at The Space on Main’s Facebook page.

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There’s good news for those who prefer physical books to e-books: Many libraries in the Upper Valley are resuming curbside pickup services. Be sure to visit your town library’s website to find out how to request materials and arrange pickup.

If you’re driving through Post Mills around 7 p.m., keep an ear out for the bells ringing at the Post Mills Congregational Church, which ring in honor of workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hanover Garden Club is currently accepting pre-orders for its annual plant sale on its website, hanovergardenclub.org. Annuals, vegetable starts, hanging baskets and herbs are among the plants available to order. Pickup and payment will be take place May 22-24 at the nonprofit’s new greenhouse located at 41 Grasse Road.

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SafeArt, a nonprofit organization based in Chelsea, is hosting an eight-week virtual group for women and non-binary people who are struggling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mitch Beck will lead the group, which is titled “Healing Arts for These Times,” and it will meet via Zoom from 2:30-4 p.m. beginning this Tuesday.

Those who sign up are asked to attend each session. While there is no exact cost, participants are asked to donate what they can.

A description in the organization’s newsletter says the focus “will be to connect with others in a supportive environment. We will share tools and practices to help foster resiliency, balance and peace of mind. We will explore creative arts, meditation, music and writing in our time together.”

To sign-up or for more information, call 802-685-3138 or email info@safeart.org.

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Joining the list of summer programs being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic is the Canaan Meetinghouse Reading Series, which was scheduled to begin on July 9. In an email to supporters, moderator Phil Pochoda wrote that some of the authors scheduled to visit Canaan will return in 2021, as well as record videos of themselves reading to share with those who would otherwise be attending in person.

Among the writers set to take part were Andrew Delbanco, Rebecca Makkai, Cleopatra Mathis, Gish Jen, Benjamin Garcia, Tom Barbash, Jeff Sharlet and Ivy Pochoda.

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The Evelyn J. Crate Fund at the Enfield Public Library is sponsoring a short story contest for seniors at Mascoma Valley Regional High School and those are homeschooled in the five-town area. Stories must be between 800-1500 words and emailed to dstruckhoff@gmail.com by Monday, June 15.

Submissions should be double-spaced as a Word or Google document file. They can also be handwritten and mailed to EJC Short Story, Contest, 51 Sargent St., Enfield, NH, 03748.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 30. First place will receive $300, second place will receive $200 and third place will receive $300.

The winning stories will be published on the Enfield Public Library’s website as well as be distributed to Meals on Wheels recipients in the area. For more information, email dstruckhoff@gmail.com or call 603-359-5413.

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church annual Bargain Bin and Silent Auction, which usually takes place the Saturday after Memorial Day, has been postponed until Sept. 12, the Saturday after Labor Day.

Keep an eye out for information about donations and from the White River Junction-based church in the coming months.

Editor’s note: Please email Upper Valley community news items to calendar@vnews.com. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.