Film Noir, holiday crafting, Fall family fun fest: Community events Oct. 21-27

100 Books Before Graduation program launch

DOVER — Dover Public Library is challenging Dover students in grades 7-12 to read 100 books before high school graduation! Students may select books of their choice that they’d like to read, and there is no set reading list for the challenge. All books completed count toward the goal of 100, including graphic novels, e-books, and audiobooks.Sign up on the library’s Beanstack website (doverpublic.beanstack.org) or on the free Beanstack app to record your reading and earn badges for your progress throughout the challenge. Prizes will be awarded as you progress through the challenge and reach milestones, and participants who read and record at least one book during each month will be entered into a monthly raffle for a small prize.Free and open to all Dover students in grades 7-12. For more information, visit library.dover.nh.gov or call (603) 516-6050.

'What in the World is a Waterkeeper?'

DURHAM — The Active Retirement Association invites you to a free general meeting and presentation featuring Melissa Paly, who will discuss “What in the World is a Waterkeeper?” on Monday, Oct. 21, from 2-3:30 p.m., at the Durham Evangelical Church (lower level), 114 Dover Road (Route 108), Durham. Open to the public; registration is not required. Light refreshments will be served, and you are invited to bring a friend or two. Non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, and cash donations for area food pantries will be gratefully accepted. For more information visit www.unh.edu/ara or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com .

Discover Film Noir program

DOVER — The program to be held at the Dover Public Library on Monday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m., will allow you to discover the background of film noir, including the meaning, influences, evolution, common elements and essential films. A view the program from home option is available to those who register for the event on the library’s website. Free and open to the public. For more information call 603-516-6050 or visit library.dover.nh.gov .

Haunted Trail

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Recreation Department invites you to the Community Campus Haunted Trail, 100 Campus Drive, Portsmouth, for two terrifying nights. Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 4-6 p.m. will be the family friendly spooky walk and Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. will be the haunted trail with scares. Free, no registration required.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

DOVER — Break out your best pumpkin embellishment skills for the Dover Public Library's Pumpkin Decorating Contest on Oct. 22. You may decorate your pumpkin however you wish, we suggest carving, painting, or costuming your pumpkin. Nothing that will drip or leave a mess. You may decorate a small to medium sized pumpkin or a miniature gourd of your choice. Please ensure that your pumpkin will fit in a roughly 12-18" display spot to ensure that there is room for everyone. Pumpkins may be dropped off between Monday, Oct. 21 at noon and Tuesday, Oct. 22 until 3 p.m., and must be picked up again by Oct. 23 at noon. For more information, visit library.dover.nh.gov or call (603) 516-6050.

NH state representative and state Senate candidate forum

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate Forum to provide an opportunity for the public to meet and hear from candidates seeking election or re-election for the State Senate District 6 race as well as the State Representative race for Rochester districts on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. and will be held at Rochester City Hall, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester. This forum is open to the public and admission is free.  For additional information on the candidates invited, visit rochesternh.org/candidates .

Discover the treasures of Dover’s Woodman Museum

RYE — Enjoy a talk by executive Director Jonathan Nichols, Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m., in the meeting room of Rye Public Library presented by Friends Of Rye Public Library. For more information go to ryepubliclibrary.org

Dining to Donate

DOVER — Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 9 p.m., at Applebee’s, located at 232 Indian Brook Drive in Dover. When diners present the event flyer, 15% of their meal total will be donated directly to the Lions Club. Proceeds will support the club’s efforts in conservation, vision, hunger relief, and childhood cancer. For more information and event flyer, visit facebook.com/DRSBLionsClub .

Ghosts with Rob Gutro

BERWICK, Maine — Ghost investigator, medium and author Rob Gutro will share a chilling case from the files of Inspired Ghost Tracking of Maryland on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Berwick Public Library.  The team investigated a home with paranormal activity. Due to the content of this program, it might not be suitable for children.

Lecture presents Countermagic and Protective Magic in Early New England

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Old Berwick Historical Society will present an online lecture titled “Countermagic and Protective Magic in Early New England” on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The lecture is free and no registration is required. The link to the lecture is at oldberwick.org .

Crafternoon: Bring Your Holiday Crafting

DOVER — On Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m., join us for a social crafting session! Drop by with your holiday (or other) crafting projects and work alongside some other makers for a series of community creating sessions. You can bring any portable crafting project with you to work on as long as it's not very messy (think the kinds of things you can work at in a cafe-ish setting). The library will have tables and chairs set up for everyone to share. The library will also be providing a limited supply of yarn and the pattern for knitted color work Christmas stockings. These will be given out as a first come first served basis.

DIY Mini Watercolor Kit and Paint-Along

DOVER — On Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. come make a mini watercolor palette. Materials for the palette will be provided, but feel free to bring your own container (roughly the size of an altoids tin is a good fit). We will follow along with a short paint-along at the end. Registration required: library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050.

Friends of the Dover Public Library October Book Sale

DOVER — The Friends of the Dover Public Library are having a book sale beginning on Friday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 27,in the Library Lecture Hall.  All leftovers will be free on Monday, Oct. 28. Hours will be Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Prices range from $1 to $5, and all proceeds go to the Friends of the Dover Public Library funds which are used to help support the library in many ways. For more information call 603-516-6050.

Fall Family Fun Fest

PORTSMOUTH — Join the Portsmouth Recreation Department for a free Fall Family Fun Fest on Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Campus Athletic Field, 100 Campus Drive, Portsmouth. There will be fun and games, live music, a magic show, touch-a-truck, food trucks and costumes are encouraged. Visit cityofportsmouth.com/recreation for more information.

Ghostbuster double feature

MILTON — The Milton Free Public Library will show a Ghostbusters double feature on Saturday, Oct. 26 starting at 1 p.m. We will be showing Ghostbuster Afterlife and Ghostbusters Frozen Empire. Arrive by 12:45 p.m. to take your seat and acquire popcorn. Bring a cushion or blanket to sit on, and drinks with lids. We will refresh the popcorn at intermission, which will be at approximately 3 p.m. and plan on starting the second Ghostbusters movie, at 3:30 p.m. for anyone who would like to come for only the second movie. All ages welcome, movies are both rated PG-13.

Albacore Park Fundraising Gala

RYE — Albacore Park is currently undergoing its very first building expansion since the museum originally opened in 1986. In support of this expansion, Albacore Park will be hosting a Gala dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 6-9 p.m. The Gala will be held at Atlantic Grill, 5 Pioneer Road, Rye, and will offer hors d'oeuvres, a sit-down dinner, a silent auction featuring a dazzling array of items generously donated by various local businesses, organizations, and artists on the Seacoast, and a very special guest speaker—Dr. Ali (Al) Naqvi, CEO and Professor from the American Institute of Artificial Intelligence. Tickets for the Albacore Park Gala are on sale now and can be purchased online by visiting AP2024.eventbrite.com .

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Film Noir, holiday crafting, Fall family fun fest: Community events Oct. 21-27