5 Things: Police Food Drive Most Successful Yet

Happy Friday, Merrimack. Here's your final 5 Things of the week!

1. Food drive success. The Merrimack Police Department posted the above photo and message on Facebook on Thursday thanking the community for its generosity with this year's holiday food drive. According to the message, this year's drive brought in more food than any past drive.

2. Spartan Pizza now open. If you live in the north end of town, or if you are simply always looking for a new restaurant to try, Spartan Pizza and Restaurant opened at the beginning of the week at 733 Daniel Webster Highway, in the spot where Pizza Man used to be. The new owners completely renovated the space and has a robust menu of pizza, subs, salads, pasta and more to choose from. Spartan offers delivery. Check Patch next week for a story about the new restaurant.

3. High school sport action. Here is this weekend's high school sports schedule for anyone who wants to cheer on our high school athletes.

Friday:

• 5:30 p.m.: Girls Junior Varsity Basketball vs. Concord HS
• 5:30 p.m.:Boys Junior Varsity Basketball @ Concord HS
• 7 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball @ Concord HS
• 7 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Concord HS
• 4 p.m.: Boys and Girls Track and Field, Dartmouth Relays
• 9:30 a.m.: Alpine ski race, Mount Sunapee
• 6:30 p.m.: Swimming vs. Souhegan at Hampshire Hills

Saturday:

• 9 a.m (lasts until evening): Boys and Girls track and field, Dartmouth Relays
• 11 a.m.: Bowling at Merrimack Ten Pin vs. Stevens High School, Hollis/Brookline and Keene.
• 8:30 p.m. Boys Varsity Ice Hockey @ Winnacunnet High School

4. Expression of gratitude. The Merrimack Town Council on Thursday night approved a $300 donation to the Merrimack Police Department. The donation came from E. Ritts Howard, according to Capt. Michael Dudash, who sent a check to the department thanking it for providing assistance to him over the last year with some personal issues. The Town Council

5. Weekend weather. So the warm weather and sunny skies are to-come, but we may have to weather a little winter before this weekend's expected thaw.

• Friday: A slight chance of showers after 3 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 40.
• Friday night: A chance of rain or freezing rain before 1 a.m., then freezing rain likely. Patchy fog after 10 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 31.
• Saturday: A chance of rain showers before 7 a.m., then a slight chance of freezing rain between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 8 a.m. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
• Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
• Sunday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.
• Sunday night. A chance of showers after 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.