Court Street theater plaque honors Streeter

The Friends of Court Street, a nonprofit group set up to raise funds to renovate the building, purchased a plaque to denote the naming of the theater there for Janice B. Streeter, the late wife of former Mayor Bernie Streeter.

The plaque was unveiled Monday evening during a brief ceremony attended by Streeter, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, representatives of the Board of Aldermen, representatives of the arts groups that use the theater, and the Streeter family and friends.

“It was a fitting gesture to someone whose first love other than family was the performing arts,” Streeter said.

Jan Streeter served on the board of directors of the American Stage Theatre, which produced plays at 14 Court St. for a time. Beyond that, she was a staunch supporter of performing arts in general.

In December 2007, during Bernie Streeter’s last month in office, the Board of Aldermen approved a resolution to name the 277-seat theater after Jan Streeter, who died that Dec. 8 after a year-long battle with cancer.

The resolution was proposed by former Alderman Jim Tolner and cosponsored by the entire board. Streeter said the resolution was a touching surprise.

When Jan Streeter died, the family asked that in lieu of sending flowers, friends donate to a fund to renovate 14 Court St.

“We were thankful for the Streeter family thinking of 14 Court Street at the time of Jan’s passing,” said Tom Grilli, president of the Friends of Court Street Theatre.

With the Streeters’ help, the organization raised more than $20,000, Grilli said. A small portion was used to buy the plaque. From the rest, the group will hire an architect to create renderings of various levels of renovations for the theater, which houses performances by such groups as the Peacock Players.

The friends will use the renderings to help solicit money to pay for the work, Grilli said.

86 the tree, already

Christmas is over, and if you honor the Epiphany, that’s gone too. So, why is that tree still dropping needles in your living room?

City trash collectors will continue carting away discarded trees, but only through Friday. After that, you’re on your own. Trees will be picked up on your trash day. They must be 3-5 feet from the trash cart and placed curbside, the city’s solid waste department advises.

They must be street level and not on top of, behind or buried in a snowbank. They also must be free and clear, and not in a plastic bag, according to the department.

Of course, make sure you scour the tree for any remaining ornaments. And don’t forget to remove the tree stand, too.

Hoopless dreams

Now, this reminder from the city street department: “Basketball hoops and snow plows don’t mix well. If you are the owner of a portable basketball hoop, please make sure it is safe off the streets and away from the snow plow routes.”

Common sense here.

Too bad you can’t do the same for mailboxes.

New officers

Four members of the 154th New Hampshire Police Academy were sworn in as the Nashua Police Department’s newest officers during a ceremony on Dec. 21.

John Hannigan attended Bishop Brady High School in Concord before earning a criminal justice degree from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., in 2010, according to Nashua Police Capt. Scott Howe.

Richard Sprankle attended Milford High School and Granite State College.

Heather West went to John Stark Regional High School in Weare before graduating from Saint Anselm College, where she graduated in 2006.

Michael Yeomelakis attended Reading (Mass.) High School and Currey College. He graduated in 2009.

All four officers began at the academy on Jan. 3 and are expected to graduate on April 8. They will then be assigned to the department’s Uniformed Operations Bureau and begin on-the-job training before assuming regular patrol duties, Howe said.

Nashua … From the Inside was compiled by staff writers Joseph Cote and Patrick Meighan.