Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Portsmouth Mayor Announces Winners Of Annual Holiday Lights Contest
And check out Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band on the Portsmouth Patch calendar
Hi there, Portsmouth! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- See which Portsmouth homes shined brightest in the holiday lights contest
- Which Portsmouth grocery stores are open for New Year’s shopping?
- How a multi-town police response ended chaotic crashes on Lafayette Road
Also on today's calendar: Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Windy with snow flurries, with a high of 31 and low of 8 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Sunshine, brisk and cold, temps: high: 23, low: 18.
- Saturday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high of 26 and low of 16 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Portsmouth Mayor Announces Winners Of Annual Holiday Lights Contest (patch.com) — Portsmouth is celebrating the winners of its Citywide Neighborhood Committee Holiday Lights Contest, with Mayor Deaglan McEachern recognizing standout displays across several city streets. Winners will be honored at the Jan. 20 City Council meeting, and residents can follow a mapped driving route to view the decorated homes. An anonymous donor is also contributing to Gather in recognition of participants. 
2. When are NH grocery stores open on New Year's Eve 2025, New Year's Day 2026? (seacoastonline.com) — If you’re shopping in Portsmouth on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, several major grocery chains will be open with special holiday hours, including Market Basket, Hannaford, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart. The piece lays out exactly when Portsmouth locations close on Dec. 31 and reopen on Jan. 1, 2026, and reminds shoppers to double-check individual store websites for any last-minute changes.
3. Massachusetts man charged with 4 felonies after multiple crashes in Portsmouth (wmur.com) — Police from Portsmouth, Rye and New Hampshire State Police coordinated to stop a Massachusetts driver accused of causing several crashes, including two on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth, that led to serious property damage but no injuries. Officers closed Lafayette Road for about two hours before removing the driver from his vehicle, and he now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, with a court appearance expected in March.
4. Phone ban, funding and school choice top NH education stories of 2025 (seacoastonline.com) — New Hampshire’s new statewide school cellphone ban reshaped daily life for students, including those in Portsmouth schools, where a bell-to-bell ban took effect this year. The article also recaps major 2025 education debates over funding, school choice, and open enrollment that could influence how Portsmouth’s schools are financed and who they serve in 2026.
📸 Around Portsmouth
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Portsmouth
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band
Button Factory Stage, 909 Islington St, Portsmouth
8:00 am
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- NYE Party with 2 DJs, food, prizes
22 Ash Swamp Rd , Newmarket
7:00 pm - BEER WEEK: Fat Kid Culinary Food Specials at Loaded Question Brewing
Loaded Question Brewing
1:00 pm - Cardboard City
Langdon Library , 328 Nimble Hill Road , Newington
2:30 pm - FOOD & BEVERAGE: Happy Hour at Toscana
Toscana , 3 Pleasant Street , Portsmouth
4:00 pm - ART: Art 'Round Town Gallery Walk
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Portsmouth, NH
5:00 pm - CLASS: Intro to Drop Spinning Workshop (Beginner)
Strawbery Banke Museum , 14 Hancock Street , Portsmouth
10:00 am - HOLIDAY: Gingerbread Smash
Portsmouth Historical Society , 10 Middle Street , Portsmouth
1:00 pm - Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Hotel Thaxter , 15 Middle St. , Portsmouth - FOOD: Sunday Brunch at SALT
SALT Kitchen and Bar
11:00 am
Wednesday December 31
Friday January 2
Saturday January 3
Sunday January 4
📣 Portsmouth Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- LIBRARY CLOSED
Langdon Library , 328 Nimble Hill Road , Newington
10:00 am - FOOD & BEVERAGE: Happy Hour at Toscana
Toscana , 3 Pleasant Street , Portsmouth
4:00 pm - Thursday Dollar Rib Night!
LEGENDS , 80 Hanover St. , Portsmouth
4:00 pm - BEER WEEK: Fat Kid Culinary Food Specials at Loaded Question Brewing
Loaded Question Brewing
1:00 pm
Thursday January 1
Friday January 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Portsmouth PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - RSP Studio Custom Framing — (603) 978-6702
RSP Studio Custom Framing – for all your framing needs. - Total Basement Finishing, a Blackdog Affiliate — (603) 458-7962
Basement Remodeling Experts in NH, MA and ME - Dogtopia of North Hampton — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Fire crews in Windham, NH, are working on a fire at 18 Wilson Rd, with the fire knocked down and all companies holding for overhaul.
3:25PM on Dec 30: Fire crews are working on a fire in a 1.5 story single-family dwelling at 18 Wilson Rd in Windham, NH. (Nextdoor ) - Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot In the days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We'll… (Nextdoor Sagamore/Little Harbor)
- City of Portsmouth New Hampshire posted a job opening for Custodian in Portsmouth. Apply here.
- Whole Foods posted a job opening for Sanitation Team Member (Cleaner, Housekeeping, Custodial) - Part Time in Portsmouth. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portsmouth here.
Ok Portsmouth! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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