Friday, July 3

Rochester
- Night Before the Fourth: July 3, gates open 3 p.m., Rochester Fairgrounds, free, suggested donation of canned goods/nonperishable foodstuffs (great word), music 4 p.m., food vendors, 9:30 p.m. fireworks.

York, Maine
- 9:05 p.m.: Fireworks sponsored by the York Harbor Reading Room in York Harbor. Best place for the public to watch the show is Harbor Beach, York Harbor, Maine.

Saturday, July 4

Portsmouth
- An American Celebration: at Strawbery Banke, noon-5 p.m., children’s parade, games, music, food, fun. www.strawberybanke.org.

Press Release:

Greg Prazar, MD, a pediatrician with Core Physians’ Exeter Pediatric Associates, was recently honored by the New Hampshire Pediatric Society (NHPS) as the state’s Pediatrician of the Year.

I know the tough economy is impacting family travel plans this summer vacation season, but really can we find another term besides “Staycation” to use. I’m sick of hearing the term. It seems to be the marketing catch phrase this year from places hoping to entice families to spend a long weekend or day at any number of area hotels and resorts.