February at the Franklin Gallery
ROCHESTER — The Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 North Main St, Rochester, will host an exhibit during the month of February featuring the work of local artists Renée Hardy and Mandy McDonald. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 7, from 5-6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend and meet the artists.

Hardy is a self-taught visual artist who lives in the Lakes Region of N.H. The surrounding lakes and mountains provide inspiration for her art work. She is highly sought after for her commissioned pet portraits and her landscapes. Renée’s mediums ranges from oils, watercolors, gouache and acrylics. She loves the ability to work in all mediums giving her more flexibility with her creativity.
McDonald is a self-taught watercolor artist based in Lebanon, Maine. Her artistic journey began in the winter of 2020, following a sudden onset of chronic autoimmune diseases, Lupus and Myasthenia Gravis. Faced with the challenges of being unable to walk or stand for extended periods, Mandy embraced this life change as an opportunity to pursue her life-long desire to learn to paint.
For information about this exhibit and other RiverStones events and services, call Kris at 603-812-1488 or visit the RiverStones website or Facebook page.
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First Annual Fiddles and Flannels Fundraiser for the New England Fiddle Ensemble
NEWMARKET — The First Annual Fiddles and Flannels Fundraiser for the New England Fiddle Ensemble will be at the Stone Church in Newmarket, on Saturday, March 8, from 5-9 p.m. This will be a ticketed event that will include a dinner buffet. There will be a raffle, silent auction, direct appeal and live auction and an evening of music from a variety of local artists such as Shana Aisenberg, Joyce Andersen, Betsy Heron, Ward & Son and Big Chicken.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nefiddleensemble.org.
Prescott Park Arts Festival’s Sweetheart Deal is back
PORTSMOUTH — Prescott Park Arts Festival has brought back their Sweetheart Deal. Save 14% on all Partner level Season Passes now through Feb. 14. Only $163 (down from $190).
Included in the deal: Two 2025 season pass buttons providing free entry to all performances; two free limited edition Festival t-shirts; early VIP table reservations (reserve tables before they open to the public); BOGO tickets to Chowder Festival: Up to one free ticket to the Chowder Festival with purchase of one full-price ticket; 10% off all food and drink orders all season long at The Prop; 50% off all chair rentals all summer long; $10 discount on all additional table reservations in The Kane Company VIP seating area; one free table reservation in The Kane Company VIP seating area for the shows of your choice, subject to availability.
Purchase passes on the Arts Festival website at prescottpark.org.
Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates Annual Life & Death in the Piscataqua Symposium
PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates recently announced the return of the annual Life & Death in the Piscataqua Symposium, featuring archaeology, history, and culture experts. This year’s event occurs on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Masonic Temple, 45 Miller Ave, Portsmouth. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 the day of) and are available via Portsmouthhistoric.org/events.
First science fiction book released by Rochester author and arts leader

ROCHESTER — J. L. Long, established Rochester author and the host of the monthly Rochester Writers Night literary salon, has just released his first science fiction novella, “Silicon Kings.” Set in the not-so-distant future, Silicon Kings explores the limits of technology, capitalism, masculinity, and other American ideals through the story of the complex and ever-shifting relationship between a San Francisco tech tycoon and his personal assistant.
The official book launch and live reading by the author is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. The reading will be held in the Rose Room at the Rochester Public Library, 65 South Main St., Rochester, with open mic readings from other area authors to follow.
The book is available through Lulu Books as an ebook and paperback (https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jllongwrites), as well as through Amazon (https://a.co/d/j2CQmLo).
NHAA celebrates 85 years with fundraiser art auction and The 85 Collection: Small Works, Big Impact

PORTSMOUTH — NHAA will kick off this year with The 85 Collection, a special showcase of small-scale works by talented artist members. With artists from across New England working in a variety of mediums, this exhibition showcases the NHAA’s long-standing mission to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all artists.
Additionally, the Annual Fundraiser Art Auction returns this February, serving as a cornerstone event supporting NHAA’s mission to empower local artists and enrich the community through art. This year’s auction features a diverse collection of artwork, offering something for every taste and budget. Each bid directly funds NHAA’s efforts to provide career development opportunities, educational programming, and platforms for artists to showcase their work. The live online auction will run from Feb. 7–19, with any unsold artwork displayed in the gallery afterward and available for full price. Visit nhartassociation.org to preview the artwork and register today.
The 85 Collection and The Fundraiser Auction will be showcased at the New Hampshire Art Association from Feb. 5 to March 2. Join NHAA for the opening reception on Friday, Feb. 7, from 5-8 p.m.
Navigating the Terrain of Citizenship: Military Service and Social Mobility in New Hampshire’s African American History
PORTSMOUTH — The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire invites the public to attend the third panel in its 2025 Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talk Series, themed “The Art of War: Conflict and the African American Philosophy.” The panel discussion will take place on Feb. 16, at the Portsmouth Public Library, starting at 2 p.m. The event will be both in-person and available virtually.
The 90-minute panel, titled “The Great Migration: Military Service and the Shaping of a Diversified New Hampshire,” will explore how military service provided African Americans with opportunities for social mobility, financial security, and the assertion of full citizenship. Drawing on Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, which emphasizes the importance of using terrain to one’s advantage, this panel will examine the intersection of African American military service and its role in diversifying the state of New Hampshire.
Panelists will focus on the integration of military bases in New Hampshire—including Pease Air Force Base, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Grenier Field in Manchester—and how these institutions contributed to the state’s demographic and cultural shifts. The discussion will also highlight how military service became an important tool for African Americans in asserting their rights and claiming full citizenship.
re interested in learning more about New Hampshire’s history, its role in broader national movements, and the ongoing efforts to ensure a fair and equitable society to join this enlightening discussion. All talks are free and open to the public with registration required for either in-person or virtual options.
For more information and to register, please visit the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s website at BlackHeritageTrailNH.org.