PORTSMOUTH, NH — The recently relocated RiverRun Bookstore will host a panel discussion and book-signing at 7 p.m. Tuesday (February 28) with four New Hampshire authors, including two award-winners from the Portsmouth area.

Pat Remick, John Bubar, Sharon Daynard and Peggy McFarland are among 27 writers published in Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm the ninth annual anthology of crime fiction from Level Best Books.

Pat Remick from Portsmouth is an award-winning short story author and veteran journalist, and has co-authored two non-fiction books. She won the 2007 Al Blanchard Crime Fiction Award, and her short stories have appeared in previous Level Best Books anthologies.

After thirty-six years as a pilot in both civilian and military aviation, where he retired as a Brigadier General and was the assistant adjutant general for air, Headquarters Maine Air National Guard, John Bubar of Durham found his way back to school and is currently a candidate for an MFA in Writing at the University of New Hampshire. He is a winner in the 2010 Writing Contest of the New Hampshire Seacoast Writers Association.

Sharon Daynard of Hudson has crossed paths with a serial killer, testified before grand juries, and taken lie detector tests. Her stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies in both the US and Canada.

Peggy McFarland from Nashua is the general manager of Moonstones in Chelmsford, MA. Her stories have appeared in numerous online venues as well as in Shroud Magazine, and anthologies published by Absent Willow Review and Six Sentences.

Also featured is Tom Sweeney of Portsmouth, but he is unable to attend the event due to a scheduling conflict.

For more information on the authors, Best New England Crime Stories 2012: Dead Calm and other New England crime anthologies, visit www.levelbestbooks.com. RiverRun recently relocated to 142 Fleet Street.

Molly Mizusawa, a junior at Phillips Exeter Academy, is collecting donations in the Woodlands. She’ll pick them up Monday morning (Sept. 5) before noon if they are left by your mailbox in a bag with her name on it. Or drop them off in the “School Supply Donations” box on the front steps of 185 FW Hartford Sept. 1-5. Or email “mmizusawa@exeter.edu” and ask her to pick them up another day. Molly will deliver the supplies to the Welfare Department on behalf of the Woodlands.

She’s collecting all school supplies, including pens, pencils, 3-hole paper, calculators, scissors, magic markers, binders (all sizes – 1”, 2”, 3”), erasers, subject notebooks, pocket folders, pencil cases, protractors and book covers. Also, BACKPACKS (including gently used – are you buying a new one and perhaps can donate the old one?) are especially needed. You can also donate gift cards at places such as Wal-Mart, Staples, Market Basket, etc. The Welfare Department also needs gift cards at local department stores for the purchase of shoes, socks, and clothing.

When buying your students their items, please consider picking up something extra for those who might need a little extra help. Thanks so much for helping!!

The sale will be from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine!  No early birds please.

Look for houses with balloons at the end of the driveways.

The exhibit will feature 60 photographs taken in Greater Portsmouth, at Great East Lake in Wakefield, and in Taos. It includes a series featuring Chinese fortune cookie fortunes placed on a subject related to the fortune, demonstrating Michael’s sense of humor in cleverly matching fortunes with interesting backgrounds.

A resident of Portsmouth for almost 35 years, Kaplan has been interested in photography since he was a teen but has been pursuing his passion fully since retiring from his family business, Prime Tanning Co. Inc., three years ago.

Located at 175 Parrott Ave., the Portsmouth Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Library at 427-1540 or Michael at michaelwkaplan@comcast.net or 431-5536.

Unique, quality handcrafted wares will be available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on that Saturday.

Participating artisans are: Jean Careno, all things embroidered; Genevieve Buck, photography; Ken Cayer, woodcrafts; Colleen Martin, bags for all occasions; Diane Morrell, hand painting; Chris Ristaino, unique jewelry; and Donna Watson, heirloom holiday decorations.   

It’s a great place to start your holiday shopping and to BUY LOCAL!

The free exhibit at the One Harbour Place museum features painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and original artwork used to make anime films and manga comics.  The exhibit will be on display through January. Also, eight regional artists have created original work for a series of snowboards donated by Forum Snowboards of Waterville Valley that will be auctioned off to raise money for the museum.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., although to 8 p.m. on Fridays.

To show your support and buy one the $15 shirts in adult and/or children’s sizes, visit any Portsmouth Fire station or www.pffca.org. Half the proceeds go to Sarah and her family, and the other portion to the Komen Foundation.

To learn more about Sarah, visit www.pffca.org or http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100718-NEWS-7180323

Photograph by Michael W. Kaplan

Woodlands resident Michael W. Kaplan’s photographs are on exhibit at the Ceres Street Bakery throughout the month of September.

The show at the 51 Penhallow Street restaurant features 20 prints, including color and black and whites, taken in Greater Portsmouth, at Great East Lake in Wakefield, and in Taos, NM.

Interested in photography since he was a teenager, Michale has been pursuing his passion fully since retiring from his family business, Prime Tanning Co. Inc., two years ago.  ”I paint with a camera,” he says. “I want to create a reaction and evoke an emotion with my photography.”

So take a trip downtown for some great photography, and really good food, and then send an email to michaelwkaplan@comcast.net to tell him how much you enjoyed the experience.