Monday Essentials: Have Fun and Raise Funds for Sgt. Ed Pane

School Board meeting. The Merrimack School Board will meet Monday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Matthew Thornton Room at Town Hall for its August meeting. On the agenda are discussions of future capital reserve projects and the modified budget process that was used to determine the 2013-14 school budget. Find the full agenda on the school district website.

Town Council Meeting. The Merrimack Town Council will meet for its August meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15. On the agenda is an update on the plans for Merrimack Fall Festival and Business Expo and the new addition this year, Merrimack Rocks concert to be held Sept. 28 among other things. Get the full agenda on the town website.

PAWS to read. This weekend, Dudley, a certified therapy dog, will return to the library to assist children ages 4 and older in practicing their reading skills. The program is open to teens and adults as well. The library will have reading materials available, but you are welcome to bring your favorite choice. Need to practice reading aloud in a foreign language? That's fine too! To reserve a 15-minute time slot, register online or call the Children's Room at 424-5021. Use an adult Merrimack Library card to register. Dudley will be accompanied by his companion Reading Specialist Karen Demyanovich who recently retired from the Merrimack School District.

Wiffle ball fun. Don't forget to register for this weekend's Sgt. Ed Pane Wiffle Ball Tournament at the American Legion on Baboosic Lake Road. The tournament, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17, is a fundraiser for Sgt. Pane who was diagnosed in recent years  with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Registration for teams of anywhere between one and five players costs $100 per team. All proceeds from registrations and concession stand sales will go toward helping Pane keep on top of mounting medical bills and personal expenses. Any questions can be directed to Rick McKenzie, mckenzie49@comcast.net or 603-860-4059, or Chris Spillane, csts9@yahoo.com or 603-494-8085.

Summer Wednesdays. Wednesdays in Merrimack continue to be quintessential summer evenings with the weekly Farmers Market and the Parks and Recreation-sponsored Summer Concert Series. The Farmers Market runs weekly in the Tractor Supply parking lot at 515 Daniel Webster Highway from 3-6 p.m. This week's concert in Abbie Griffin Park will feature the Lakes Region Big Band. Pull up a chair or a blanket and enjoy a concert in the park beginning at 6:30 p.m.