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🌱 Patch AM: Do you remember Laureen Rahn or 1980 life on Merrimack Street?

Coming up on the Manchester Patch calendar: FREE Introduction to Digital Photography class

Monday May 4th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hi there, Manchester! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

  • Do you remember Laureen Rahn or 1980 life on Merrimack Street?
  • What big housing and café projects are before Manchester’s Planning Board Thursday?
  • How John Stark’s frontier neighborhood became today’s east-side Manchester.

Also on today's calendar: FREE Introduction to Digital Photography class and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why is the mushroom always invited to the party? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Monday: Partly sunny; windy, warmer, with a high of 70 and low of 50 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny and warmer, temps: high: 81, low: 60.
  • Wednesday: Cooler with a few showers, with a high of 68 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Cold Case Unit calls for tips in 1980 Manchester disappearance (unionleader.com) — Manchester residents are being urged to help solve the 46-year-old disappearance of 14-year-old Laureen Rahn, who vanished from her Merrimack Street apartment in 1980. The New Hampshire Cold Case Unit is re-examining evidence with advanced DNA tools and believes former neighbors, classmates, and friends in Manchester may hold crucial information, encouraging anyone with even small details to contact the tip line.    

2. May 7 Planning Board: Barn-to-housing conversion, a new café + more (inklink.news) — Manchester residents have a busy Planning Board agenda this Thursday, May 7, including a new Bay Street café, a barn-to-housing conversion on Mammoth Road, and added units in a fire-damaged Lake Avenue building. You can attend in person or watch live on Manchester Public Television, and recent approvals on Hackett Hill Road and other sites are also summarized.    

3. Looking Back: The hardships of frontier life for John Stark and his family (unionleader.com) — Early frontier life around what’s now Manchester comes alive through the story of Archibald and John Stark, from building mills and forts near today’s Livingston and Nutt’s ponds to bracing for Native and French threats. The piece traces how Harrytown evolved into Derryfield, covering the east side of today’s Manchester and setting up next week’s account of Stark’s capture.    

4. Cancer rates among young people are rising (newenglandnewspress.com) — A statewide roundup of recent New Hampshire stories includes several Manchester angles, from local residents facing criminal charges to teachers from the city being named semifinalists for the 2027 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year award. It also highlights rising cancer rates among young people and environmental concerns like invasive jumping worms now found in New Hampshire.    


📸 Around Manchester

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Manchester

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📣 Manchester Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
    Jax was LOST on May 1, 2026 in Manchester, NH 03103 near DUNBAR ST AND HURD ST Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Notre Dame)
  • My 18 year old cat went missing Friday, May 1st.
    Near Union/Clarke St. Has anyone seen him? (Nextdoor North End)
  • BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. posted a job opening for Produce Clerk Part Time in Manchester. Apply here.
  • GXO Logistics Inc. posted a job opening for Material Handler - Mon - Fri 3:00pm - 8:30pm in Manchester. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Manchester here.

Ok Manchester! 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: He is a fungi (Thank you Liz N. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.


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