Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Toy Drives In Portsmouth: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone
Be sure to catch Meet & Greet on the Portsmouth Patch calendar
Hey there, Portsmouth! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Where to drop toys in Portsmouth to brighten local kids’ holidays
- Portsmouth chamber spotlights Dec. 26 premiere of Discovering Magic
- How Portsmouth Regional Hospital led a major food drive this year
Also on today's calendar: Fire Cider Making Workshop and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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Find out what's happening in Portsmouthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Times of sun and clouds, with a high of 33 and low of 27 degrees.
- Sunday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 30, low: 10. ⛄️ Brr!
- Monday: Sun, then clouds; windy, cold, with a high of 25 and low of 18 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Toy Drives In Portsmouth: How To Make The Holidays Merry For Everyone (patch.com) — Holiday shoppers in Portsmouth are being encouraged to add an extra gift or two for local toy drives, including a collection at Pinz on Lafayette Road and the Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank. The piece explains how residents can donate new, unwrapped toys or give online to Toys for Tots and other regional efforts so children in need across the Seacoast share in the season’s joy. 
2. Chamber Collaborative Of Greater Portsmouth: Andrew Pinard’s Discovering Magic Premieres Dec. 26 (patch.com) — A new magic show, Andrew Pinard’s Discovering Magic, is set to premiere in Portsmouth on Dec. 26, backed by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. The brief notice highlights that the performance is a local cultural event and clarifies that the views expressed are those of the chamber, not the news outlet.
3. Portsmouth, Frisbie hospitals make big food drive push (seacoastonline.com) — Portsmouth Regional Hospital led a four-hospital New Hampshire food drive, donating 1,450 pounds of food to local nonprofit Gather and helping create thousands of meals for residents in need. The HCA Healthcare initiative, running since 2021, also included hospitals in Manchester, Rochester, and Derry, all working to ease food insecurity with nutritious donations.
4. Theft ring targeted Home Depot stores in nine states, including New Hampshire, investigators say (wmur.com) — Portsmouth shoppers should know that the local Home Depot was among 128 stores in nine states hit by an alleged multi-million-dollar theft ring, according to investigators. Queens, New York prosecutors say 13 suspects are indicted, accused of hundreds of thefts involving tools, building supplies and other goods across the region.
5. State Employees Association Seeks Member Input, Meeting With Ayotte Over COGE Report (patch.com) — A new state efficiency report recommends shifting control of the Port of Portsmouth to New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation, a move that could reshape how the waterfront is managed and developed. The report, now under review by Gov. Kelly Ayotte and state employees, also proposes consolidating school districts, expanding AI use in government, and rethinking remote work rules.
📸 Around Portsmouth
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Portsmouth
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Meet & Greet
The Goat, 142 Congress Street, Portsmouth
11:00 am
Sunday December 14
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce 15 Middle St. (inside Hotel Thaxter) Portsmouth, NH 03801 - 35th Annual GINGERBREAD House Contest and Exhibition
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Portsmouth Historical Society 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth NH
10:00 am - FOOD: Sunday Brunch at SALT
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce SALT Kitchen and Bar
11:00 am - Holiday Jazz Brunch with Taylor O’Donnell and a Very Merry Quartet at The Press Room - Two Shows: 11:30 & 2
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce The Press Room 77 Daniel St Portsmouth, NH 03801
11:30 am - Fire Cider Making Workshop
Tuckaway Farm , 36 Captain Smith Emerson Rd , Lee
1:00 pm - Daylight Stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Strawbery Banke Museum 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
2:00 pm - Candlelight Stroll
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Strawbery Banke Museum 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, NH
4:30 pm - Nichinan Nights Happy Hour
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce 15 Middle St. (inside Hotel Thaxter) Portsmouth, NH 03801
Sunday December 14
Monday December 15
📣 Portsmouth Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- 35th Annual GINGERBREAD House Contest and Exhibition
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Portsmouth Historical Society 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth NH
10:00 am - Santa is Coming to Town, North Hampton
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce 65 Lafayette Rd Ste 101, North Hampton, New Hampshire
11:00 am - 14th Annual Wrong Brain Holidaze Bizaare!
Community Campus , 100 Campus Dr , Portsmouth
11:00 am - North End Holiday Market - Portsmouth
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce 165 Deer St., 238 Deer St. and 99 Foundry Place, Portsmouth
11:00 am
Saturday December 13
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:
- 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 - RSP Studio Custom Framing — (603) 978-6702
RSP Studio Custom Framing – for all your framing needs.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- We are down to the last few days to sign up for the Portsmouth Citywide Neighborhood Committee's Holiday Lights Contest!
for details and the signup form, visit: https://portsnh.co/HolidayLights2025 (Nextdoor ) - Hello neighbors here is my new winter art class schedule: 2 stained-glass classes, a mosaic class and a felted wool class!
I also have gift cards available for that special person on your holiday list! Please visit my website for more details: https://www.olivetealarts… (Nextdoor Lafayette Park)
- Cedar Healthcare Center posted a job opening for Recreation/Activities Aid in Portsmouth. Apply here.
- US Government Jobs posted a job opening for Materials Handler (6 month register) 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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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