5 Things: Public Skating Rink Now Open

1. Lace up your skates. The recent cold snap has made it possible for the Merrimack Parks and Recreation Department to get the town skating rink open. Located behind the tennis courts on O'Gara Drive, the rink is open, as weather permits, seven days a week with the lights on from 4:30-10 p.m. A group of dedicated volunteers will groom the ice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. On these evenings the rink will be close to skaters at 8:30 pm.  Current ice conditions will be posted on the Merrimack Department of Public Works Facebook page. Call the Public Works Department at 423-8551 or the Parks and Recreation office at 882-1046 with any questions.

2. Benefit dinner. The fifth annual dinner to benefit the Humane Society for Greater Nashua is scheduled for Monday night at Saffron Bistro in downtown Nashua. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and will include a salad and stations featuring three gourmet entrees and sides, dessert, and coffee too.  A cash bar will also be available. Tickets are $65 per person and include tax and gratuity. Best of all a portion of each ticket sold directly benefits the shelter’s pets. Tickets are on sale now! Those attending will also have a chance to win many great raffle items, including a Kindle Fire HD! All proceeds will help the pets awaiting adoption. Tickets can be purchased by calling the shelter at (603) 889-BARK (2275) ext. 35 or emailing noelle@hsfn.org  Tickets are also available at The Saffron Bistro on 80 Main St. in downtown Nashua. Get more information about the event here.

3. Chow(der) down. The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce and Opportunity Networks invite you to participate in the Second Annual Chili & Chowder Cook Off on Sunday, Jan. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Amherst Business Center located at 105 Route 101A. Professional and amateur chefs will show off their skills in chili and chowder-making. The cost is $10 per adult, $8 per senior, and $5 per child (ages 12 and under) to taste all the entries, with a nominal charge for beer and baked goods. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the Chamber Office at 673-4360.

4. Book sale. The Merrimack Public Library's Mid-Winter Book Sale will be  Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27 from 1-3 p.m. Saturday prices range from $.25-1.00 and Sunday has bargain pricing of $2-5.00 per bag (depending on the size). Some of the sale items have recently been withdrawn from the library collection while others have been donated by members of the community.

5. Weekend weather. A look at your super-cold weekend forecast. How do you keep warm when it's this cold?

• Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -12. 
• Friday Night: A chance of snow, mainly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 8.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as zero.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 25.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.