NHBR About Town: Week of December 5, 2025

1. Franklin Savings Bank has donated over $1,700 in new equipment to support Spaulding Academy & Family Services’ recently renovated gym. CEO Brian Bozak, bank president; Jon Jones, SVP, senior commercial loan officer; Jenn Prince, AVP, marketing and community engagement officer; and Brian Lamontange, branch manager at FSB’s Gilford location, helped set up the equipment. Spaulding Academy & Family Services provides special educational, residential, therapeutic and community-based programs and services for families, children and youth.

2. Baron’s Major Brands Appliances in Belmont has donated over $2,000 worth of appliances to the 44th annual Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. Online bidding extends through Dec. 12. Registered auction bidders can visit www.childrensauction.org. The auction is from Tuesday, Dec. 9 through Friday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Belknap Marketplace in Belmont. For drop-off locations, ornament locations, sponsorship opportunities and other auction-related news, visit ChildrensAuction.org.

3. In September, Franklin Savings Bank granted $13,850 to the Town of Boscawen’s Parks Improvement Project. Along with the redesign and reconstruction of a section of Depot Street to enable safe pedestrian and vehicle access to the park, the project included a new, timber-framed picnic pavilion, river overlook, and improvements to Dorval House. The project will also improve fencing and landscaping at the park.

4. Eastern Propane & Oil has donated $30,890.34 to Veterans Count, according to a press release. Veterans Count is a program of Easterseals New Hampshire. Eastern’s donation represents one penny for every gallon of propane delivered by its five Veterans Count delivery trucks over the previous year. The donation will directly help Veterans Count provide essential services and care coordination for New Hampshire service members, veterans and their families.

5. In October, Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) participated in #NHBanksGiveBack, which is organized annually by the NH Bankers Association. MVSB celebrates supporting local towns through community service and financial support. NH Jump$tart helps improve the personal financial education of NH students. From left are MVSB Regional Vice President Cathy Sleeper; NH Jump$tart Senior Director of Education Dan Hebert, MVSB Teller Supervisor Lauren Reddy, and MVSB Branch Services Supervisor Joy Roberts.

6. For Veterans Day, Advantage Truck Group held breakfast celebrations at Lancaster, Lebanon, Manchester and Seabrook, New Hampshire locations to honor its employees who are veterans and active-duty service members. ATG employee members and managers cooked the meals together to show appreciation to Advantage Truck Group colleagues. Nearly 15% of ATG employees are veterans and active military members. The company is designated as a Military-Friendly Gold Employer.

7. The Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce recently teamed up with the Salem High School CTE Center and Great NH Restaurants for the annual Rising Chef “Souper Star” Challenge. Competitors were judged on flavor, creativity, presentation and cost per serving. This year’s Souper Star was Emily Sawyer, whose award-winning recipe was featured as Soup of the Day at Salem T-BONES from Nov. 3-9.