Dublin Community Center held an open house Friday night to introduce new center director Monica Laskey to the community. 

Snacks and wine were offered at a banquet table, and guests chatted and looked at art hanging in the orange-walled room. It was snowing out, but the event attracted a steady crowd.

Laskey takes over from Volkert Volkersz, who held the job since 2017. Like Volkersz, Laskey is a musician with experience in education and community-building. She has been living in Hancock since 2005 and looks forward to developing the DubHub into a regional gathering place.

“A community center is vital to giving people a real life sense of connection,” Laskey said. “Living under the shadow of the pandemic, I feel like we need a shared sense of community now more than ever.”

Laskey has spent many years volunteering locally, including the Hancock Old Home Days Committee, as a Girl Scout leader and a PTO officer. She feels lucky to be taking over at this time.

“I’ve had the benefit of inheriting a really strong program from Volkert,” Laskey said, and an “engaged, supportive board.”

Laskey plans to continue holding events like art shows, open mics, pop-up workshops and yoga. She hopes to expand activities, as well, like pop-up pingpong and events that offer businesses the opportunity to reach the community. On Saturday evening, the DubHub held Laskey’s first coffeehouse and open mic. They invited In Focus Coffee Roasters to sponsor the event, where they served their locally roasted coffee.

Laskey is committed to reaching out to people in Dublin and beyond. She has been sharing events on town Facebook pages and inviting businesses around the region to call her to set up an event. Laskey is excited to talk to the community about their ideas and what they want to see at the DubHub.

“I want it to be thought of as a hub for the greater Monadnock region,” Laskey said, and “I want to always emphasize the public is welcome.”

In early January, Buddy the goat visited from Sullivan-based Amazing Grace Animal Sanctuary to collect Christmas trees for the rescue farm. Laskey hopes to invite some animals from the farm back for a story hour. The DubHub will be hosting a Valentine’s Day activity and other events for children, and Laskey has dreams of creating a combined music festival and farmers’ market in the summer. 

“Building community is especially important right now. I want people to consider this community center their community center,” Laskey said.

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