5 Things: Operation Santa is Under Way

1. Historical Society fundraiser. The Merrimack Historical Society is holding a fundraiser sale of items from the Old Farmers' Almanac. Available are: The 2013 Almanac ($6), Kids' Almanac ($10), Everyday Baking ($10), Hardback Garden Fresh Cookbook ($20), Hardback Everyday Cookbook ($20), GardenJournal ($10), Best New England Recipes ($10), and 2013 Gardening Calendar ($10). These make great Christmas gifts and help the Society with their expenses to maintain their schoolhouse, preserve the artifacts, do research and give educational presentation. Volume 1 of Merrymac's History and historical Afghans are also for sale.  Contact Anita at 424-5084 or anitacreager58@comcast.net for information or to order books until Dec. 22.

2. Merrimack Lioness Operation Santa tree. Once again the Library has partnered with Merrimack Lioness in hosting their Operation Santa giving tree, which is decorated with cards identifying gifts that would make Christmas for needy families a little brighter this year. Pick a card – or several – then buy the items listed and return them (unwrapped) to the library by Dec. 14. The Lioness will make sure the gifts are distribute in time for the holiday.

3. How art-tastic! Congratulations to the students at Merrimack High School who were inducted into the National Art Honor Society on Thursday night.

4. NH Symphony 2012 Holiday House Tour: Annual trip through wonderland, featuring five homes all decked out for the holidays, Dec. 1&2, from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets available for $17 today at venues listed here, or on tour day at 7 Columbia Ave. for $20. Details here.

5. Weekend weather. Possible snow showers this weekend, but no real accumulation expected. Here's your weekend forecast according to the National Weather Service.

• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31.
• Friday Night: A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 29 by 5 a.m.
• Saturday: A chance of snow showers before 2 p.m., then a chance of rain showers between 2 and 4 p.m., then a chance of snow showers after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 37.
• Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11 p.m., then a chance of rain showers. Patchy fog between 1 and 2 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 34.
• Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Patchy fog between 8 and 9 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 53.
• Sunday Night: A chance of showers before 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.